New Details Emerge on Seven Windows Phones from HTC
BY: Ed Hardy, Brighthand.com Editor
PUBLISHED: 3/4/2009
Sometimes information on upcoming models leaks out in tiny drops; sometimes it pours out. Today it’s the latter. Details have emerged on no less than seven smartphones coming later this year from HTC.
All of these models were part of an equally massive leak in January, but previously there were few details available these Windows phones. Today’s report fleshes them out somewhat.
HTC Whitestone
The replacement for the HTC Touch HD is code-named the Whitestone — its predecessor was code-named Blackstone. According to the latest source, it is scheduled to be released by Verizon in September, and will be able to access both CDMA and GSM networks.
The Whitestone will have much in common with this current model: a 3.6-inch, WVGA touchscreen; 528 MHz processor; 256 MB of RAM; 5 MPx camera; and GPS. One of the few significant changes will be the inclusion of a stand (see here), not surprising on a multimedia-oriented smartphone.
It will launch with Windows Mobile 6.1 Pro; whether an upgrade to version 6.5 will be released is considered unlikely.
HTC FirestoneHTC FirestoneAnother models on HTC’s drawing board is the Firestone, which seems to combine the features of the Whitestone and the Touch Diamond2.
This model will run Windows Mobile 6.1 Pro on a 600 MHz Qualcomm processor, and an upgrade to version 6.5 is considered probable.
The Firestone will apparently have squarer shape than the curvy Whitestone, but have the same 3.6-inch, WVGA touchscreen. Other features include 256 MB of RAM and an 8 MPx camera
It will supposedly be released for GSM networks in August, possibly in N. America.
HTC ThothHTC Thoth
The successor to the HTC Athena — AKA the HTC Advantage series — will apparently be the HTC Thoth. According to both unconfirmed sources, it will use the same general shape as the current model: a tablet with a large display and a detachable keyboard (see image at left).
The Thoth will supposedly sport a WVGA touchscreen that’s considerably larger than the one on the Whitestone: 4.8 inches.
It will run Windows Mobile 6.5 Pro on a 1 GHz Qualcomm processor and sport 256 MB of RAM and a 5 MPx camera.
It is expected to hit the market in September.
HTC Touch Pro2 and Touch Diamond2HTC has already announced the Touch Pro2 and the Touch Diamond2, but won’t say anything about which wireless carriers are interested in it.
According to the unconfirmed sources, the Touch Diamond2 is headed to the U.S. carriers AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon. The Touch Diamond2 is supposedly on its way to AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile — European and USA.
HTC Maple and Cedar
Most of the details on the HTC Maple emerged in a separate leak yesterday, but for those who missed it, this smartphone will be the successor to the HTC Excalibur, better known at the T-Mobile Dash.
It will supposedly run Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard on a 528 MHz processor and include 128 MB of RAM. Below its 2.4-inch, 320-by-240-pixel display will be a trackball and a QWERTY keyboard.
The Maple is scheduled to be released by T-Mobile USA in May.
A very similar model, code-named the HTC Cedar, was on its way to Verizon in June, but it may have been canceled.