Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows
Home > Type > News > The HTC HD2 from T-Mobile is Here

The HTC HD2 from T-Mobile is Here

Mar. 24, 2010 Paul Thurrott | Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows

And imagine what a big splash this beautiful phone could have made just a few months ago. As it is now, Microsoft has already announced Windows Phone and said, several times, that HD2 owners will not be able to upgrade. So that's sort of the definition of "deflating" when it comes to smart phones, and I have to think it really tempers the HD2's US launch. Alas, here it is. I can't imagine many people are going to bother.

The HTC HD2 exclusively from T-Mobile

Be one of the first to own the ultimate smart phone in mobile entertainment.

  • Read books on the largest Smartphone screen on the market.
  • Multitask more easily while watching TV and movies with
    the fastest processor available.
  • Stream music and play the hottest games.

Mobile entertainment

  • Barnes & Noble eReader
  • Movies on Demand from BLOCKBUSTER
  • MobiTV
  • Guitar Hero
  • Transformers and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
  • Gogo Inflight Internet

Key features

  • HTC Sense
  • Windows Mobile 6.5
  • 4.3-inch screen
  • Weather
  • Camera

Productivity

  • "Pinch to zoom" web browsing
  • Email, calendar and contact management
  • Swype
  • Voice Command

It's a great looking phone, it really is. And you have to see it in person to appreciate the size of its screen and the thinness of the overall time. But too little too late? Oh yeah.

Discuss this Article 14

mknox
on Mar 24, 2010
I'm not sure it is too little too late. I really am enjoying the Windows Mobile 6.5 experience on my new LG eXpo and am concerned Windows Phone 7 is going to take away some of the apps, features (cut-and-paste anyone?) and open architecture that I much prefer over the closed iPhone, which I've given up on. I'll surely take a close look at 7, but may just remain a Windows Phone Classic user in the medium term.
Dipsh t Admin
on Mar 24, 2010
It will temper the sales. But that HD2 is an amazing piece of hardware, and the HTC Sense UI hides some of the WM interface quirks for 90%+ of the typical usage scenario. However, what will also severely dampen the appeal, at least in three months time, is the HTC EVO for Sprint. The first 4G phone in the US, and has the same dimensions as the HD2, runs Android 2.1 with Sense, and even has an HDMI port and 8 MP camera. This hardware makes all other smartphones seem quaint in comparison. Let's not forget the HTC Incredible for Verizon, which should hopefully be announced today as well.
Delmont
on Mar 24, 2010
I can see people getting this phone now. And now is what it is about for many people. The new iPhone is not out till July. The new Windows Mobile phones not out till this fall or winter. How long do you expect people to keep waiting? There are some very cool phones out now. And there are millinos of non techies out there that want a phone today. Heck today is March 24 the new iPhone will be out in July yet the current 3Gs is still selling like hotcakes right now. My 2cents :-)
whiplash55
on Mar 24, 2010
Just curious, are WinMo/Windows Phone affected by the lawsuit? Nice piece of hardware too bad you can't upgrade.
anonymuos
on Mar 24, 2010
What I want to know Paul or anyone else is does this phone replace too much of WM6.5 UI as reports say? Can you still experience WM 6.5 as it was designed or it's too different? Bcoz I am considering buying this beauty.
Rasken
on Mar 24, 2010
If HTC is smart, they have this handset back in the design shop with a minor faceplate/button reorganisatiion and Windows Phone 7 ready to deploy. If this can do this, I have my WinPhone 7 picked already.
Webdev511
on Mar 24, 2010
I have yet to see this phone in person, but I have to say that it is enticing. If it comes with Windows Phone 6.5.3, you can turn the Touch Sense UI off and see just how good a 6.5 phone can be. I LOVE the native 6.5.3 UI on my Omnia, but wish the screen was a bit bigger and was capacitive instead of resistive. If this phone could be upgraded to Windows Phone 7, I'd be all over it.
subzerohitman721
on Mar 24, 2010
Smartphone customers have to take a snapshot of the phones out at the present & not wait for the "super magical" phones coming in the future. If you wait for the next big thing to come out, you might end up paying for something that flops. Just look at all the people who upgraded to the Palm Pre. While the Pre is a great phone with that sweet webOS, Palm didn't have the marketing, long term strategies, or platform to win. When the Pre made it's debut, it was the big talk of that CES. Now, Palm is essentially dead. Either someone buys Palm up or they go bankrupt. Look at this years phone lay of the land, the iPhone & Android are the most popular, with Blackberry still selling very well. Symbian is popular overseas but not so much in the U.S. I'm pretty sure the iPhone 3GS, Droid, Hero, Moment, Nexus One, iPad, & EVO just killed the HD 2. Windows Mobile/Classic is a dead platform. Windows Phone 7 Series looks promising, but we really won't know until 2011. The fact that it doesn't have copy & paste, but stupidly choose not to make it a priority? Pretty dumb move on Microsoft's part. It just gives the biased press something else to rip Microsoft about. On a side note related to mobile: PWN 2 OWN starts today. Browsers & mobile platforms. Looking forward to it.
Keleko
on Mar 24, 2010
I will suggest that a lot of people that want this kind of phone don't really care if Windows Phone 7 is coming out at the end of the year. They get this phone because it does what they need right now. It is most likely a business that would buy it for that reason, and they have legacy support that Windows Phone 7 will not support.
gfryesc1
on Mar 24, 2010
I'd say Microsoft really put their partner behind the eight ball with this.
spoocky
on Mar 24, 2010
THC HD2 just outnumbered the iPhones within our program management organizaion 60+ people - all individual buys / no corporate decision. I did replace my iPhone late november 2009 - thought to keep my iPhone just in case I would have wanted to revert back - but never felt so - therefore gave it away for free. main reasons for the change as far as it came to my attention: iPhone is seen as old fashioned and far more important apple is perceived as providing a claustrophobic platform ...
spoocky
on Mar 24, 2010
gfryesc1 - could not disagree more: Windows Phone Classic is the product of choice for both high secure communication (encrypted voice/text/data transfer) and corporate smart phone market. while Windows Phone 7 series is the consumer phone / music player market solution ...
anonymous
on Mar 24, 2010
This post was mentioned on Twitter by thurrott: The HTC HD2 from T-Mobile is Here: And imagine what a big splash this beautiful phone could have made just a few m... http://bit.ly/dCQg4i
Delmont
on Mar 24, 2010
Here you go: HTC HD2 $99 at Walmart Letstalk.com w/new 2yr contract http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1936644

Please or Register to post comments.

Related Articles

IT/Dev Connections

Las Vegas
September 30th - October 4th

Paul ThurottYou'll have the opportunity to experience:
• 120 Technical
Sessions
• Networking with Peers
• Expert Speakers


Come See Paul Thurrott & Mary Jo Foley in Person!

Register Now

Office 365 InfoCenter

Get the latest insight and info from Paul

Read Now!

What I Use
Apr. 18, 2013
Article

What I Use: On the Road 21

Every so often, I publish an updated version of my “What I Use” document, which details the technology products and services I actually use day-to-day. Since I’m currently on my third business trip in five weeks, this is perhaps an ideal time to discuss the technology products I rely on when I travel and a few related points....More
Mar. 6, 2013
Article

What I Use: March 2013 35

Lots of changes since November, including a new PC-based home server running Windows 8, several new smart phones, new PCs and tablets, new cloud backup, Office 365 Home Premium and a nice doubling of my Internet speeds courtesy of Verizon FIOS....More
WinSuperSite.com
Related Penton Sites
Copyright © 2013 Penton Media, Inc