[Boom04]

Quite a lot of discussion above on tariffs/contract terms etc, but does it make any sense to just go for a unlocked phone?

Prices at Clove, Handtec, Expansys (and even Play) are around the £500 mark - give or take. [Have I missed any other obvious suppliers?]

I've haven't really monitored new releases before but is there usually a premium on unlocked phones on release, and how long does it take (typically) for the prices to fall.

Thanks

[Wronghole]

You always pay a premium on newly released phones .

It can take long time for the price to drop and alot depends on demand

[jonneymendoza]

buying a unlocked phone is throwing money down the toilet. do the math and that £500 plus a similar 12-18month contract with internet on would cost you "more" i bet you.

[Wronghole]

Originally Posted by jonneymendoza

buying a unlocked phone is throwing money down the toilet. do the math and that £500 plus a similar 12-18month contract with internet on would cost you "more" i bet you.

Especially if you can use the upgrading route with your contract

I paid £45 for my sony X1 last year on a £45 (1200mins ,1000txt ,unlimited net )contract reduced to £30 for the term over the 18 months thats £540 + £45 for phone

At the time the X1 was £550-£600 sim free then the + contract

[vavaclio]

some new vids over at slashgear

http://www.slashgear.com/htc-hd2-vid...sions-0262523/

edit:

another video worth looking at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWddNRlSzE0

[jonneymendoza]

android OS vs win mob 6.5 OS UMMM

[Wronghole]

Be a nice sized screen to run copilot on or garmin...

I dont mind WM myself and having the HTC software over it should help

[Praxidike]

Originally Posted by jonneymendoza

buying a unlocked phone is throwing money down the toilet. do the math and that £500 plus a similar 12-18month contract with internet on would cost you "more" i bet you.

I'm tempted with the unlocked phone though - I hardly ever make calls (use skype) or texts (email) if I have the internet available - so one of the 3 PAYG sims with a £5 internet add on would be fine for me.

£60 a year + £500 for the phone works out at a similar price to a £20-£25 contract when you have to pay £150+ for the phone, but with flexibility. I certainly wouldn't go with the £35-£40 ones where the phone is free, just because I can't bring myself to commit to spending that much each month when I wouldn't use it as a proper phone.

But the thought of paying £500 in one go isn't great...

[Synchro]

WM 6.5 is a MASSIVE improvement over 6.1. Much, much better.

[Synchro]

Originally Posted by Praxidike

I'm tempted with the unlocked phone though - I hardly ever make calls (use skype) or texts (email) if I have the internet available - so one of the 3 PAYG sims with a £5 internet add on would be fine for me.

£60 a year + £500 for the phone works out at a similar price to a £20-£25 contract when you have to pay £150+ for the phone, but with flexibility. I certainly wouldn't go with the £35-£40 ones where the phone is free, just because I can't bring myself to commit to spending that much each month when I wouldn't use it as a proper phone.

But the thought of paying £500 in one go isn't great...

I love HTC phones, (and have a Diamond Touch) but the price here is far too expensive. Its just not worth it.

[blobq]

Originally Posted by vavaclio

some new vids over at slashgear

HTC HD2 video unboxing & first-impressions - SlashGear

edit:

another video worth looking at:

YouTube - HTC HD2 preview video

i love the windcreen wiper on the hime screen, can you get this on the hero?

[Mr Moon]

I'm tempted, I currently have touch HD and not bothered by iphone, don't like the idea of having to use itunes for everything.

I would like to touch HD2 with android OS

[rovex33]

Originally Posted by Synchro

I love HTC phones, (and have a Diamond Touch) but the price here is far too expensive. Its just not worth it.

Its actually cheaper than the HD was at launch. Considering its also cheper than the iPhone, and has more modern and powerful hardware i tihnk its cheap.
The Acer neotouch is similar in that it has the snapdragon processor, but has a much cheaper build, a rather soft and squishy resistive screen and no HTC sense interface, but is only £275.

I much prefer windows mobile to android (or iphone). Its just so easy to configure the way you want and the file system is so open. Iphone is like being locked in a room in a straight jacket. Android is like someone opening the door, but you still have the jacket on, winmo is like running free!

[BB3Lions]

02 are releasing this for xmas, they need to rename/brand it as the XDA HD.

Since they are not getting the new BB, i'm opting for this on WM6.5

[Boom04]

Originally Posted by Praxidike

I'm tempted with the unlocked phone though - I hardly ever make calls (use skype) or texts (email) if I have the internet available - so one of the 3 PAYG sims with a £5 internet add on would be fine for me.

£60 a year + £500 for the phone works out at a similar price to a £20-£25 contract when you have to pay £150+ for the phone, but with flexibility. I certainly wouldn't go with the £35-£40 ones where the phone is free, just because I can't bring myself to commit to spending that much each month when I wouldn't use it as a proper phone.

But the thought of paying £500 in one go isn't great...

Yes that was my thinking too. I agree that going for an unlocked PLUS similar contract is a waste of money, however the key point is what is that "contract". If you are low/er usage (for whatever reason) then an unlocked unit suddenly becomes more appealing. You also have an unlocked unit at the end of your term.

The question then becomes why pay THAT much money for a mobile which might not have that much "use". Key (for me at least) is a phone is not its only use. I have been using WM PPC's for what seem forever and my PPC is NEVER very far from my side. The HD2 just seems to perfect upgrade to an aging Axim X51v, and means I can also throw in the mobile capability at the same time. Hey at last one unit! Yippey. Only piece in justifying this is the £500 hit... and that hurts...

[vavaclio]

source: HTC HD2 handset due in the UK this week - V3.co.uk - formerly vnunet.com

Dont know how reliable this source, but according to them, HTC said the hd2 will be available through T mobile this week.

[1pudding1]

Im v v tempted by this phone, but need to know one thing. Does it play wma-drm files?

I subscribe to Napster and download all my music from there to carry around, so obviously any new phone I get to replace my portable music player needs to play these files.

Im hoping that seeing as this runs Winmo 6.5, that wma-drm files will be ok? Does anyone know this for certain before I order?

[vavaclio]

new unboxing video (retail packaging):

YouTube - HTC HD2 Leo

looks like it comes with a pouch and memory card

[mhorton]

Makes me want the phone even more.

[mhorton]

Originally Posted by 1pudding1

Im v v tempted by this phone, but need to know one thing. Does it play wma-drm files?

I subscribe to Napster and download all my music from there to carry around, so obviously any new phone I get to replace my portable music player needs to play these files.

Im hoping that seeing as this runs Winmo 6.5, that wma-drm files will be ok? Does anyone know this for certain before I order?

From the HTC website it doesn't look like it is -

Audio supported formats:
.aac, .amr, .m4a, .mid, .mp3, .mp4, .qcp, .wav, .wma

[rovex33]

It does have a shortcut to the Amazon music store in the music tab. So im guessing it can play DRM, but whether its only for that site i dont know.

[Woolley5]

The more I see this phone the more I am put off by it's size. Plus the fact it's not android is niggling me a bit. Bit dissappointed there are no new HTC android phones on the immediate horizon

[nickhopkins07]

If it had android on it, I'd be all over this phone! Think it looks the buisness.

[ekinlock]

Originally Posted by nickhopkins07

If it had android on it, I'd be all over this phone! Think it looks the buisness.

Seconded, i am getting the first Android handset that has similar hardware to this....

[Jack S]

Found this walkthrough vid on youtube, it's 40 minutes long so its pretty thorough.

YouTube - HTC Touch HD2 Walkthrough

[djwoody]

Looks like the inevitable delay in shipping will hit us with pre orders. The HTC press release stating "shipping now in Europe" actually means "not shipping in the UK and will be delayed" !!!
Been told by a few on-retailers that Nov 13th is the new date.
Another week of waiting .......

[Moosh]

Originally Posted by djwoody

Looks like the inevitable delay in shipping will hit us with pre orders. The HTC press release stating "shipping now in Europe" actually means "not shipping in the UK and will be delayed" !!!
Been told by a few on-retailers that Nov 13th is the new date.
Another week of waiting .......

This is torture!

Cheers
Moosh

[mhorton]

Just spoke to a really nice guy (Gilbert) on T-Mobile's online upgrade chat, and he has told me that they still have no official date yet. All they have been told is it's going to mid to late November... He also said that this might be because of some software bug.

[BB3Lions]

Well for me it weas this or the BB Storm2 - i think this looks more user friendly, only a month or so to wait

[mhorton]

Delayed till the 20th Nov for testing?

HD2 Delayed until 20th of November for "testing" - WinMo @ MoDaCo

Seems like know one knows what's going on.