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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It looks as though T-Mobile subscribers will have two big reasons reasons to rejoice come November 11th, but they’re not the only ones with cause for celebration in the near future. Let’s not forget that Windows Mobile fans around the world will have a reason to party well ahead of that; in fact, one of our trusty ninjas has just added to the Windows Phone fray with the juicy tidbit that on October 6th — the day Windows Mobile 6.5 devices lift off globally — Verizon Wireless plans to get in on the action with the HTC Imagio. Codenamed Whitestone and previously mistaken for the Touch Diamond2, the Imagio features WinMo 6.5 along with a 3.6-inch WVGA touchscreen display, a 528MHz Qualcomm processor, 512MB ROM/256MB RAM, a 5 megapixel camera with auto-focus and anti-shake, GPS and GSM connectivity in addition to Verizon’s CDMA/EV-DO connectivity. As a tasty little aside, we’ve heard from a few sources that the HTC Predator will likely land on VZW later in October, though for the time being all we know is that it will run Android. Getting excited yet, Verizon fans?

Some good news for Windows Mobile fans hit the interwebs this morning as two Verizon-bound WinMo handsets get spec’d and a third shows itself in a slightly updated render. First up, the CDMA variant of HTC’s Touch Diamond2, codenamed Whitestone. Pictured above at the far left, specs are looking like this:

• Windows Mobile 6.1
• Qualcomm 7600 processor @ 528MHz
• 512MB ROM/256MB RAM
• 3.6-inch WVGA touchscreen
• 5 megapixel autofocus camera/Anti-handshaking
• gpsOne (aGPS and full GPS)
• GSM/CDMA World phone

Rumor has it the Diamond2 will be making its way to Big Red sometime in September or October and we can only hope the release version sheds that crazy mesh pattern from the case. Hit the jump for details on the HTC Mega and a new render of the Tachi.

Next up is the HTC Mega, pictured for the first time (top middle). It’s not shaping up to be the most exciting handset HTC has ever produced, but at least we’re looking at WinMo 6.5 at launch:

• Windows Mobile 6.5
• Qualcomm 7225 processor @ 528 MHz
• 256MB ROM/256MB RAM
• 2.8-inch QVGA (240×320)
• GSM/GPRS/EDGE/HSDPA
• 3 megapixel fixed-focus camera
• gpsOne

3 megapixels, huh? Expect this to be among the more affordable WinMo 6.5 handsets HTC churns out in the near future. Last and most likely least we have an updated render of the HTC Tachi, a China-bound handset of little interest:

• Windows Mobile 6.1
• Dual CDMA/GSM radio
• 2.8-inch 480×640 pixel display
• WiFi
• Bluetooth 2.0
• 3.1 megapixel camera with auto-focus
• Front facing camera
• MicroSD slot

2009 started off with a quite the bang as the entire 2009 line-up from HTC was leaked. A few of those handsets, most notably the Diamond2, Touch Pro2 and Magic have already been announced, but the rest of them have not. We have to be honest and say that a few of these handsets are standard fare for HTC, but the Firestone with it’s large touchscreen, 600MHz processor, 8 megapixel camera and WinMo 6.5 makes definitely looks like a device to watch for in the coming months. Hit the jump for the details.

Whitestone:

• 3.6″ WVGA display
• GSM and EVDO
• Qualcomm 7600 at 528MHz
• 256MB RAM / 512MB ROM
• 5 megapixel camera
• Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional
• ETA: September on Verizon

Firestone:

• 3.6″ WVGA display
• GSM/HSPA
• Qualcomm 8250 at 600MHz
• 256MB RAM / 512MB ROM
• 8 megapixel camera
• Windows Mobile 6.5
• ETA: September

Thor (aka Athena 2):

• 4.8″ WVGA display
• Qualcomm 8250 at 1GHz
• 256MB RAM/ 512MB ROM
• 5 megapixel camera
• Windows Mobile 6.5
• ETA: September

Twin:

• VGA display
• Qualcomm 7501A at 528MHz and TI Locosto processors
• GSM/CDMA
• 256MB RAM / 512MB ROM
• 3.2 megapixel camera

Maple (aka Excalibur 3G)

• 2.4″ QVGA display
• Qualcomm 7228 at 528MHz
• 156MB RAM / 256MB ROM
• 2 megapixel camera
• Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard
• ETA: May

[Via WMPoweruser]

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