If a slide posted to the PPCGeeks forum is both legitimate and accurate, then T-Mobile customers have two pretty nifty smartphones headed their way next month in the HTC HD2 and Motorola CLIQ XT. The HD2, a device we’re positive that anyone who at least occasionally frequents this site is well-versed on, is said to drop on March 10th with the CLIQ XT two weeks later on March 24th. What on earth is the CLIQ XT? Apparently it’s the Zeppelin, the physical-keypad shunning, pure touchscreen alternative to the somewhat maligned CLIQ. Still not getting it? Well, we did see it in the silicon the other day. The question is: Will we actually see it and the HD2 with T-Mobile branding next month?

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Businessmen and women have been able to get their hands on it for the past 10 days, but starting today AT&T will sell the HTC Tilt2 to us regular folk. The second Windows Phone Windows Mobile 6.5 handset to be offered by AT&T after the Pure, the Tilt2 is available for $299.99 on a 2-year contract after a $50 mail-in rebate or $499.99 contract free. But we have to ask for the sake of stirring up a little Sunday discussion: Considering the fact that all four carriers in the US offer up the Tilt2 in one form or another, why pick AT&T over Sprint, T-Mobile or Verizon?

Thanks, Alexander!

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Although not a soul alive is shocked by the news, today Verizon Wireless announced it will be releasing the HTC Imagio — its first Windows Mobile 6.5 device — online starting October 6th. The Imagio, known to most by its codename Whitestone, will feature the following key specs: 3.6″ WVGA touchscreen display (resistive, of course), 5 megapixel camera with autofocus, Wi-Fi, EV-DO Rev. A, quad-band EDGE and 2100MHz UMTS/HSDPA for international roaming. Being a WinMo device from HTC, TouchFLO 3D is naturally included while Verizon will be chipping in MediaFLO support for those who are willing to part with an extra $15 per month. So what will the Imagio cost come its big day? $199.99 on a 2-year deal after a $100 MIR which isn’t all that shabby, all things considered.

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We’re willing to forgive the horrible quality on these press mock ups of Sprint’s HTC Touch Pro2 because, well, we’re just way too happy to see this sucker get official to care. Are you a current or prospective Sprint subscriber? Do you have $350 dollars burning a hole in your pocket and a hankering for one of the sexiest Windows Mobile phones on earth? Rest easy friends, as Sprint has just officially announced the HTC Touch Pro2. That’s right Sprint fans, the Pro2′s giant tilting 3.6-inch WVGA touchscreen display, landscape QWERTY keypad, 3.2 megapixel camera with auto-focus and TouchFLO 3D UI can soon be yours. Sprint’s Touch Pro2 will launch next Tuesday, September 8th, for $349.99 on a 2-year contract after a $100 mail-in rebate. Sure the early adopter tax is higher than usual but you know what they say — you have to pay to play.

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Yes, indeed, the day so many of you have been patiently waiting for has arrived as T-Mobile’s HTC Touch Pro2 is now on sale. Arguably the greatest Windows Mobile handset to ever grace this great green earth, the Touch Pro2 features a 3.6-inch WVGA restive touchscreen display, sliding QWERTY keypad, 3.2 megapixel camera with auto focus, Wi-Fi, GPS, 512MB ROM/288MB RAM, microSDHC support and a 528MHz Qualcomm MSM7200A processor — all working to make this Windows Mobile 6.1 smartphone with TouchFLO 3D the gem that it is. The only problem as we see it is the 2-year price tag that could make even a hardened extortionist weep: $349.99. Then again, perhaps we’re being too hard on T-Mobile’s pricing; there are worse things you could be spending your hard earned money on, right?

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Canadian Windows Mobile junkies have a couple of reasons to smile this afternoon as TELUS has begun selling two great WinMo packin’ smartphones: the HTC Snap and Touch Pro2. Priced at $0 and $249.99 respectively on 3-year deals with voice and data discount (or $399.99 and $649.99 outright), both the Snap and Touch Pro2 are sure to please prosumers and business users alike. Apart from their obvious differences, each device has an abundance of features including email support, Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, speakerphone, visual voicemail, global GSM roaming and well over five hours of talk-time per device. So, Canadians, who’s in?

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Oh Best Buy, how we love you so. It doesn’t seem to matter to you whether or not a carrier has officially launched a device, because you’re in the big box business and don’t care about trivialities like carrier announcements. The latest example of this sort of behavior is your peddling of TELUS’ HTC Touch Pro2 for $249.99 CAD despite the fact TELUS has yet to confirm pricing, let alone a launch date. But like we said, you’re Best Buy so you can afford to take these sort of risks. Just do us one favor, okay? Fix the crazy image that you have up on the site because you’re making the sexiest WinMo handset in creation look like one of those LG phones that wants to be a makeup compact. Kthx.

Thanks, Dennis!

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The internet is abuzz this morning with the rumor that a new clamshell smartphone is coming soon from HTC. Evidence of the handset, codenamed LEO, is said to have been found within a TouchFLO 3D 2.5 “Manilla” ROM. Its purported specs include a full-QWERTY keypad, external QVGA display, internal 16:9 WVGA display, support for OpenGL 2.0 and a Snapdragon processor. Mmm, Snapdragon. This rumor is pretty messy though, because there is every possibility that the Leo is actually the Omni — a device long rumored to be the successor of the HTC Universal, a Pocket PC that made its retail debut in late 2005. After all, when one thinks about it, the thought of HTC dropping a device it was rumored to be working on very early in 2007 just seems, well, so un-HTC.

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And just like that, yet another carrier has officially jumped in on the BlackBerry Tour action — today the honors belonging to Canada’s TELUS. The carrier is willing to let anyone and everyone get their hands on the latest sexy number from RIM provided they’re cool with dropping $229.99 and signing off on a 3-year deal. But don’t worry, those of you who are contractaphobes or just like to spend cash like it’s going out of style, because the Tour can be bought off-contract for $599.99. In other news related to the green carrier from North of the 49th, the HTC Snap and Touch Pro2 have officially been announced as coming soon. This means it’s likely that all is indeed set for the 15th and 21st of July respectively. However, considering that the TELUS launch date of the Tour has been pushed up by two days in response to Bell’s earlier than expected launch, we wouldn’t be surprised to see things for the Snap or Pro2 change at the last moment as well.

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HTC’s TouchFLO 3D UI manages to make Windows Mobile hip but after HTC unveiled its Sense UI for the Hero, we’re sure that more than few of the WinMo faithful were tempted to switch over to Android to get in on all of the new hotness. But to the fanboys who dare not think of committing such heresy we ask that you take a look at the image above. It’s a screenshot from TouchFLO 3D 2.5 “Manila” (which is reportedly going to debut on the Firestone) that features many welcome enhancements over its predecessors. The home screen has been changed to allow the selection of up to three application shortcuts and support for Footprints is there as well, but to be perfectly honest its the skinning of pretty much every single Settings screen that has us excited. The less we see of the default WinMo UI we see the better. Hit the jump for a few more screenshots and a video walkthrough (in German).

[Via pocketnow]

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Verizon Wireless announced today that the long overdue HTC Touch Diamond will be available online and through business channels starting tomorrow, April 10th. The Touch Diamond will feature a 2.76″ touchscreen, 3.2 megapixel camera, microSD expansion that supports up to 16GB, GPS, TouchFlo 3D and Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional. But you knew all that, considering the Touch Diamond has been around forever at this point. Whether this model has been crippled cannot be determined as details on the processor, available RAM and GPS status are not yet available from Verizon. The Touch Diamond will retail for a pricey $299.99 after a $70 mail-in rebate and a new 2-year customer agreement. Excited, Verizon customers, or just aggravated considering the Touch Diamond2 is almost a reality at this point?

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It’s certainly been a long time coming, but thanks to one our faithful Verizon ninjas we now know that Verizon is all set for the launch of its custom variant of the HTC Touch Diamond for all B2B, web and telesales customers come April 10. And while the full retail channel release date has yet to be set, we’re more than sure that a lot of the Big Red faithful won’t mind the extra wait seeing as the Touch Diamond will go for as little as $199.99 on a 2-year after mail-in rebates. For those who prefer not to be locked in to contracts or just want to add the Touch Diamond to their cellular collection, expect to fork over $469.99. Just a little refresher as to what makes the VZW Touch Diamond unique:

• CPU: Qualcomm 7500A
• Speed: 528 MHz
• RAM size: 128MB
• Flash size: 256MB
• Display resolution: 480×640
• 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus

Hit up the jump for a product description, full specs/features and a list of retail box contents. Aww, heck, you might as well check in on our exclusive VZW Touch Diamond gallery to help tide you over until the 10th while you’re at it.

Description

The new HTC Touch Diamond combines all the performance and functionality of Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional with high-tech, innovative TouchFLO 3D Technology on its hi-res touch screen. View, Create, and edit documents in Word and Excel, view PowerPoint and PDF files, filter your Inbox, and stay connected securely with your office via ActiveSync or Wireless Sync. Take advantage of Wi-Fi connectivity, Bluetooth Wireless Technology and its 3.2 MP camera w/flash and video capture. Use it as a tethered modem with Mobile Broadband Connect (previously named BroadbandAccess Connect), find your way with VZ Navigator and stay entertained and up to date with Windows Media Player and Visual Voice Mail.

Features

• 1xEVDO – Rev. A capable
• 3.2 Megapixel Camera
• ActiveSync
• Auto Flash
• Auto Focus
• Bar Style Design
• Bluetooth (see BT Profiles for details)
• Bluetooth – Stereo
• Bluetooth Enabled for Wireless Headset Support
• Bluetooth Printing
• Calculator
• Calendar
• Caller ID – Picture
• Camera
• Camera w/ Flash
• Capture Mode: Portrait and Landscape
• Data Capable
• Display – Color
• Display: 480 x 640 VGA resolution color TFT-LCD
• E-mail & Internet Access
• E-mail & Web for Smartphone
• Embedded Ringtones, Vibrating Alerts & Silent
• Hearing Aid Compatibility:M4
• High-speed USB Connection
• MP3 Capable
• MP3 Trimmer
• Microsoft Media Player
• Microsoft Pocket Excel
• Microsoft Pocket Internet Explorer
• Microsoft Pocket Powerpoint – view only
• Microsoft Pocket Word
• Mobile Broadband Connect
• Multitasking Capability While Playing Music
• Music Player
• NationalAccess Connect
• OTA Capable
• Phone book with up to 1,000 Entries with multiple contacts
• Polyphonic Ring Tones
• Removable Memory – MicroSD
• Requires Data Feature/Plan
• Rev A Capable
• Speakerphone
• Speed Dialing
• TTY compatible
• Tethered Modem Support
• Text, Picture, Video & Voice Messaging
• Touch screen display
• TouchFLO Technology
• Up to 16GB MicroSD Optional Removable Memory
• VZ Navigator capable
• VZAccess Manager
• VZAppZone
• Video Capture & Playback
• Virtual, All-Touch QWERTY Keyboard
• Visual Voice Mail
• Voice Commands
• Voice Note/Memo
• Voicemail
• Web Browser
• WiFi
• Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional
• Windows Mobile Device Center
• Windows Vista compatible
• Wireless Sync

Specifications

• Mode: All Digital Talk Time:  Up To 300 Minutes
• Color:  Black  Standby Time: Up To 375 Hours
• Size: 4H x 2W x 0.55D Screen Size: 2.8 inches
• Weight: 4.20oz.
• Screen Resolution:  480×640 VGA resolution, TFT-LCD touch sensitive display
• Number of Contacts: 1000+
• Current Software Version: 1.14.605.13

Included With Handset

• AC Adapter
• Getting Started CD (includes User Guide)
• Mini USB Charging Data Cable
• Multifunction Audio Cable
• Quick Reference Guide
• Quick Start Guide
• RF Brochure
• Read This First Poster
• Standard Lithium Ion Battery
• Stylus (2)
• VZAccess Manager CD

Thanks, VZWNinja!

Usually carriers wait until a device has been on the market a while before re-releasing it in myriad colors. If these promo shots are to be believed, however, it looks like Sprint might be planning a preemptive color strike. The shots depict the upcoming Sprint version of the HTC Touch Diamond in full red regalia. The black is pretty becoming on the Diamond’s diminutive exterior, but the red is certainly looking to be an attractive option. As with all rumors, it’s entirely possible that this is a Photoshop dupe job, but we wouldn’t be shocked if the red Touch Diamond dropped alongside the black when it finally hits store shelves sometime in the next month or two. Specs are expected to be identical to the black version, which is to say the handset will still be a pretty formidable presence and should slot in at the top of Sprint’s smartphone lineup.

[Via WMExperts]

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If you’ll recall from our recent review of HTC’s new flagship Touch Diamond, we were a bit underwhelmed by the GUI’s overall responsiveness and performance. Sure, it’s a beautiful new way to navigate the doldrums of the Windows Mobile interface, but what good are appearances if there’s nothing underneath to back it up? Apparently, HTC has taken note of the TouchFLO 3D issues and has incorporated a number of fixes into a new ROM version that is now shipping with every European-spec Diamond to hit the shelves. The company hasn’t spoken to any sort of specific tweaks or changes they made, but initial subjective reports seem to favor the new firmware over the original version, with users reporting a faster, more responsive experience. Unfortunately, all of this is a moot point for American users hoping to get their hands on a compatible version of the phone, but at least we can rest assured that by the time it does officially land on our shores, many of the early kinks will have been worked out.

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Enamored with the HTC Touch Diamond but think that the lack of a physical keyboard is a deal-breaker? We might be one step closer to your perfect handset. Shots of the HTC Raphael were revealed to the world leading up to this month’s Touch Diamond press event, but when the 6th of May came and went without a QWERTY version of HTC’s next generation handset, many left a bit disappointed. Thankfully, help is on the way. The HTC Raphael will be branded in Europe as the T-Mobile MDA Vario IV, and should hit the ground running sometime during Q2 of this year. The handset will sport WiFi, Bluetooth, Tri-Band GSM with HSDPA, GPS, 460×640 screen, 3.2 MP camera, 528 mhz processor, and a slew of other features. No word on whether TouchFLO 3D will be integrated, but the impression we got from HTC in London was that their impressive new Touch interface would be offered on a variety of devices, and we see no reason why the Raphael shouldn’t be one of them. No word on pricing or specific drop date, but given the tri-band GSM status we’re not holding our breath for an imminent stateside release. Seriously though, when has HTC ever offered tri-band devices in recent years? What happened to all high-end devices having quad-band EDGE and tri-band UMTS? 

[Via Engadget]

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