You gotta hand it to the marketing/PR peeps in the mobile gadget space for figuring out how to announce phones, yet hold back just enough to get some coverage out of the details disclosed months later.
As it were, HTC finally announced pricing and (gasp!) availability info for its newest “flagship” devices – Touch Diamond2 & Touch Pro2 – earlier today.
We first got wind of these 2 handsets back in the middle of February, and then found out they would definitely be making their way to our side of the globe. As expected, both “cutting-edge” devices include “HTC TouchFLO 3D Integrated With Windows Mobile.”
The Touch Diamond2 is “crafted to fit perfectly into the hand…[and] is optimized for one-hand use.” It includes (as we already knew) a 3.2″ hi-res wide-screen VGA display, is 13.7mm thick, has 20% more battery capacity (I presume over the original Touch Diamond), a 5 megapixel auto-focus cam, expandable memory, gravity sensor, an ambient light sensor, and “[has] a new touch sensitive zoom bar for even faster zooming of Web pages, emails, text messages, photos or documents.” Check out Matt Davis’ very-thorough unboxing and hands-on for a closer look.
As for the Touch Pro2, which the company says is “designed for business professionals…[and is] optimized for touch as well as heavy email use,” HTC has included a 3.6″ widescreen VGA display, a “large finger-friendly” QWERTY keyboard, improved battery life, expandable memory, a touch-sensitive zoom bar as well as gravity, proximity and ambient light sensors. HTC is also touting its new HTC Straight Talk™ For HTC Touch Pro2:
The new HTC Touch Pro2 leverages voice in a new way to create one of the most sophisticated communication experiences found on a mobile phone. HTC’s new Straight Talk technology delivers an integrated email, voice and speakerphone experience. Users can transition seamlessly from email to single or multi-party conference calls* and turn any location into a conference room.
In addition to the new simplified calling experience, Straight Talk includes an innovative mechanical and acoustic design that features a sophisticated speakerphone experience similar to those found in corporate boardrooms. Straight Talk delivers a high-fidelity voice and sound experience enhanced by asymmetric speakers and advanced noise suppression with full duplex acoustics. When the Touch Pro2 is flipped over it automatically turns into a conference room speakerphone system.
And finally, the news we’ve all been waiting for…the HTC Touch Diamond2 and HTC Touch Pro2 will be available starting in mid May and the end of June 2009 [respectively] (so specific, I know) at all authorized resellers at a suggested retail price of SGD $1,088 and $1,328 (aka, roughly $720 and $879 USD).
Who buys these phones? Most people were up in arms about the price of the iphone, and even the iphone is about half that price. If people goff at 400 bucks for an iphone, which is going to be twice the phone these are then what makes HTC think people will actually buy these things?
Remember, these are the unlocked prices. Carrier subsidies will bring these down to a (somewhat) less absurd price.
It’s great to see companies focusing on voice feature enhancements as opposed to the bells and whistles of a phone. This is a great move by HTC with the Touch Pro 2 and can’t wait to try out the conference feature.
If ever I needed proof of God, it is in the forethought to provide us with an extra arm and leg, just for such purchases as these.
HTC undoubtedly has recognized this as well, with their “optimization for one-hand use.”
Therefore, I say, worry not about how you will afford said phone. Dream instead of what you will buy with your other appendage!
(I am, of course, assuming that a two-year contract lowers the price to either an arm OR a leg.)
Seems fair for a top end phone.
We all scream for more and then moan when it costs more. Cant have it all ya know…
Tell you what HTC et all, give me a 3.2″ dual screen with kboard and ill give ya a grand.
Deal?
I plan to get one.
A dual screen? Explain.
You know, the unlocked 8 GB iPhone costs S$1,019, or close to $700 USD. It’s funny that every tech blog that has posted the unlocked price of the Touch Diamond2/Pro2 has commented on how “expensive” it is. Really, it’s not.
(Btw, they sell unlocked iPhones in Hong Kong, which is where I got that price.)
http://store.apple.com/hk/browse/home/shop_iphone/family/iphone?mco=MTE2NTQ
The Diamond2 is already out here in Singapore for S$598 on the cheapest 2-year contract, which is S$25/mo. You can get the phone for cheaper if you get a more expensive plan.
I’m planning on getting the Touch Pro2 when it comes out late June. I’m eligible to upgrade my phone on July 1st, so it’s kind of perfect.