Unboxing the HTC MTeoR

[Jerry Raia]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://arne.blog.theunwired.net/?itemid=3213' target='_blank'>http://arne.blog.theunwired.net/?itemid=3213</a><br /><br /></div><i>"This morning I found a notification in my postbox, that a parcel service tried to deliver a long awaited package yesterday and I gave the driver an imidiate call-back. One hour later, he rang again and handed-over a package from HTC's marketing agency - containing the HTC MTeoR Windows Mobile UMTS Smartphone/aka HTC Breze and the HTC TyTN Windows Mobile UMTS Pocket PC Phone Edition/aka HTC Hermes (I've already reviewed in the O2 Xda trion version some time ago)."</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Jerry-htc_small.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><br />Just a couple of pictures for your consideration of the new MTeoR. Actually only one picture but I wanted to get your attention. I know most of you think it is ugly. I happen to like it. :)

[Kris Kumar]

HTC needs to work on the power brick. I like the Moto power adapter, for a phone that costs $150 or more and for a Smartphone that is bound to be used for travel, Moto's design makes so much sense. Plus they have been doing it for such a long time. Though the Moto Q adapter was heavier than the MPx220, the collapsible pins make it really useful.

[Mike Temporale]

Yeah, I don't know why they do that. You would think that something a little more universal would make sense. Ah well, as long as they keep using the miniUSB for all their phones it shouldn't matter. Oh wait... they already broke this with the StrTrk. :evil:

[Kris Kumar]

BTW just noticed that MTeoR is available on eXpansys UK (http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=MTEOR) for £324.95.

[davidwsica]

BTW just noticed that MTeoR is available on eXpansys UK (http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=MTEOR) for £324.95.

I think if you do the conversion that's a little over $600 USD.

I ordered mine from:

http://www.samstores.com/details.asp?ProdID=6598

It was $474 when I ordered it but it's been upped to $529.99 now. I should have it Monday or Tuesday next week.

David

[Kris Kumar]

It was $474 when I ordered it...

Wow, thats a cool price. I think I bought my i-mate SP3i at that price couple of years ago. Wow!

Do share with us your experience.

Enjoy!

[davidwsica]

It was $474 when I ordered it...

Wow, thats a cool price. I think I bought my i-mate SP3i at that price couple of years ago. Wow!

Do share with us your experience.

Enjoy!

Sure, I'll try to follow-up after I receive the unit next week. At that price you have to wonder what the "catch" is so we'll see... :)

[Sp00k]

CAVEAT EMPTOR!!!

A frustrated user contacted HTC re: App-Unlocking the Mteor and received this reply today...

You are unable to application unlock your handset. The version of ROM your handset uses has been locked down entirely by Microsoft. We have been attempting to remedy the situation through the various registry edits, however none of these have worked.

There will be no solution until we are able to acquire an unlocked ROM from Microsoft which will then be released as a ROM update.

source: Modaco

[Mike Temporale]

Interesting... So Microsoft has made the application lock a little harder now. Seems strange that such a change would have been made between versions of the OS. :?

[davidwsica]

It was $474 when I ordered it...

Wow, thats a cool price. I think I bought my i-mate SP3i at that price couple of years ago. Wow!

Do share with us your experience.

Enjoy!

Well, the sage continues. It turns out they charged my credit card the "updated" price of $529.99 without my permission. I called them today and they said it was due to exchange rate changes, hmm. They said they would refund my total order but I said no because it's still a good price. Interestingly enough, I just checked their site a minute ago and they've upped the price again to $549.99, still cheaper than the $599.99 going rate it seems.

[Kris Kumar]

Well, the sage continues. It turns out they charged my credit card the "updated" price of $529.99 without my permission. I called them today and they said it was due to exchange rate changes, hmm. They said they would refund my total order but I said no because it's still a good price. Interestingly enough, I just checked their site a minute ago and they've upped the price again to $549.99, still cheaper than the $599.99 going rate it seems.

Ouch!

You right about the price still being good. I would wait for the Smartphone to land up at the door step, and then raise a storm, asking for the difference. I believe you have the copy of the receipt that was provided at the time of order - an email or web page print out. Save that. Threaten them to take to Better Business Bureau.

They should honor the price at which the product was sold, after all they had listed the US$ price and not the Euro or Pound Sterling.

[davidwsica]

Well I just received the MTeoR yesterday and it appears the catch is that the unit I received does not operate on 850 MHz. As far as I can tell this phone should operate on 850 MHz but that's not indicated in the manual that came with it. Can anybody else confirm that there should be a variant of the MTeoR with 850 MHz support?

David

[Mike Temporale]

Well I just received the MTeoR yesterday and it appears the catch is that the unit I received does not operate on 850 MHz. As far as I can tell this phone should operate on 850 MHz but that's not indicated in the manual that came with it. Can anybody else confirm that there should be a variant of the MTeoR with 850 MHz support?

David

On phones like my Tanger or the Mitac Mio there was a little application that you had to run and toggle the 850/900 frequency. Perhaps this needs to be done on the MTeoR for it to work right in North America.

[davidwsica]

Well I just received the MTeoR yesterday and it appears the catch is that the unit I received does not operate on 850 MHz. As far as I can tell this phone should operate on 850 MHz but that's not indicated in the manual that came with it. Can anybody else confirm that there should be a variant of the MTeoR with 850 MHz support?

David

On phones like my Tanger or the Mitac Mio there was a little application that you had to run and toggle the 850/900 frequency. Perhaps this needs to be done on the MTeoR for it to work right in North America.

VERY interesting. Can anyone confirm this for the MTeoR and/or know where I can find such a utility?

[davidwsica]

I just received this email from a rep at Expansys:

According to all of the HTC specs, it is a quad-band phone. However, we just received confirmation that the MTeoR is only a tri-band phone.

Thank you,

Randy Neal
Technical Sales Executive
MobilePlanet - an eXpansys company
(P) 309-834-0306 (F) 309-661-1851
[email protected]

I wish I had known that last week!

[Kris Kumar]

My understanding was that it is a Tri-Band UMTS and Quad-Band EDGE.

After the work hours I will try to dig up the official flyer etc.

[davidwsica]

My understanding was that it is a Tri-Band UMTS and Quad-Band EDGE.

After the work hours I will try to dig up the official flyer etc.

I agree that the published specs say this. From the store I ordered from it says:

Commuincations:
Tri-band UMTS 2100MHz
Quad-band EDGE
Global Roaming

This is the same wording as from the HTC site.

However, I can confirm from my retail box that it says the following on the outside:

UMTS/GSM/EDGE: UMTS: 2100, GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 900, 1800, 1900

And I can confirm from usage that there's no 850 MHz coverage since my office runs on 850 MHz and I can't get a signal.

David

[Kris Kumar]

Sorry about my previous post. I was under the impression that the HTC product marketing knows better. Apparently I was wrong and HTC's product marketing department knows nothing. :evil: This is bad. I would write an email to the HTC support about this and the Web site from where you bought it.

I smell a lawsuit.

This is much worse than the Moto MPx220 volume fiasco. HTC was a nice boy in my books, not any more, I don't trust anyone.

[Jerry Raia]

This is much worse than the Moto MPx220 volume fiasco. HTC was a nice boy in my books, not any more, I don't trust anyone.

I would have to agree. This is not good.

[davidwsica]

What I don't understand is why this hasn't gotten more press in the smartphone community. Surely, I'm not the only one to have noticed this with the MTeoR?? Can we get a post on the front page of Smartphone Thoughts to get some more coverage outside of this forum topic?

[Kris Kumar]

What I don't understand is why this hasn't gotten more press in the smartphone community. Surely, I'm not the only one to have noticed this with the MTeoR?? Can we get a post on the front page of Smartphone Thoughts to get some more coverage outside of this forum topic?

You bet.

I am surprised too, infact HTC still has those flyers (http://europe.htc.com/z/pdf/content/1766_MTeoR_PRODSHT_FRNT.PDF) on their web site.

[davidwsica]

If it helps I can provide photos of the box and/or manual specs. Just let me know and if so how/where to post/send them.

[Kris Kumar]

If it helps I can provide photos of the box and/or manual specs. Just let me know and if so how/where to post/send them.

Sent you a PM.

Thanks.

[Mike Temporale]

What I don't understand is why this hasn't gotten more press in the smartphone community. Surely, I'm not the only one to have noticed this with the MTeoR??

Well, the phone is brand-brand new and you're one of the first people to pick one up. From what I've seen the story is just starting to break across the 'net. There are some reports on Howard forums and a couple other places. I'm not surprised that the HTC page hasn't been pulled or updated yet. I imagine that they are still trying to trace down what went wrong and how to correct it.

In the mean time, I would look into returning your unit. It's not what was advertised and you're still withing a couple days so they shouldn't have much of an issue.

[davidwsica]

Yea, I see the reports coming in now as you metioned. I emailed the company I bought it from with an explanation and they tol me to call their support number. I'll do that tomorrow. I hope it won't be a battle to get a refund but I'm expecting the worst (i.e. lengthy conversation resulting in an escalation to some "supervisor".).