HTC Announces New s730 Featuring 3G

[Mike Temporale]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.htc.com/press_room/03-press-071001_02.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.htc.com/press_room/03-press-071001_02.htm</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>&quot;An enhanced version of the successful HTC S710 handset that launched earlier this year, the HTC S730 adds 3G/HSDPA and a 400MHz processor for those consumers and business professionals who want high speed connectivity. It's is a stylish and compact phone which features an auto-sliding QWERTY keyboard making it an ideal choice for the mobile professional who needs easy access to email, messaging and the internet while out of the office. The HTC S730 comes equipped with Windows Mobile 6 and 256MB Flash memory wrapped in a sleek gun-metal grey casing.&quot;</em></p><p><img border="0" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/500/spt/auto/1191243453.usr3.jpg" alt="" /></p><p>This is the device for everyone that likes the Vox but didn't like the Edge network connection. The s730 has a 400MHz processor along with 3G/HSDPA, Quad-band connectivity. So you won't be using a slow device any longer. HTC already has a product page posted for this device. You can read all about it over <a href="http://www.htc.com/product/03-product_s730.htm">here</a>.</p><p><strong>UPDATE:</strong> You can <a href="http://www.mobileplanet.com/p.aspx?i=157448&amp;partner=sthoughts" target="_blank">order one from our Expansys affiliate store</a> for $549 USD.</p>

[onlydarksets]

Apparently the QWERTY keyboard has been improved, as well. I haven't used the 710, but it appears the edges of the keys are better defined in the 730.

[networkguy]

Having read the full specs here

http://www.htc.com/product/03-product_s730.htm

And seeing that Expansys are asking for £314 inc VAT SIM free.

And seeing that the only complaint I have with my S710 is speed.

I only have one question.

When are these shipping?

[Paquette]

Having read the full specs here ...
I only have one question. When are these shipping?

Well, the S730 would have been my smartphone of choice but now??? I have at least two more questions to HTC:

- Why no (more) GPS? Preliminary specs listed GPS as a feature of the Qualcomm chip set.

- Why no larger battery? I assume with 1050 mAh the device will be dead after one day of push-email/3G... which is the regular scenario for heavy business users like me.

While I do understand that HTC does not want to cannibalize S730 and TyTN II markets it is sad to see a crippled device as the result of such considerations. :( HTC: You could have done better!

Where is the point in buying a smartphone in Q4 2007 which (except for the WM6) has almost the same specs as the Q3 2006 TyTN?

GPS would have made a BIG difference for me.

[nalpakj]

THe phone looks great but I was really looking forward to the GPS and jog dial that was part of the early rumored specs of this phone. THe GPS I could live without, although it would be very nice. The jog dial is huge for me.

[Rocco Augusto]

oh happy days! A phone that doesn't sport a 200MHz processor!

Looks slick, I might have to buy one!

[dwhitney]

Hmmm.... a Vox with 2x processor speed and 3G. Sounds nice but I wonder what is going to happen to the battery life. The Vox I had was depleted to <20% battery life by the time I got home from work each day so unless this thing has an upgraded battery, folks are going to be in for a bad surprise.

[HalM]

Is this the only product in the HTC announcement???

[egads]

I've been waiting for the HTC S730 for months now, and now that its here I'm very disappointed. I really wanted the GPS mention in all of the pre-release info. The only reason I can see to buy the S730 over the S710 is the faster processor (I won't be using 3G). To save $150 I think I would buy the S710 instead.
Any one know of any other reasons to buy the S730 over the S710?
<O:p</O:p

[networkguy]

Whats the big deal about GPS?

I can't think of any reason why you would want such a thing on a phone.

[finestkind]

Whats the big deal about GPS?

I can't think of any reason why you would want such a thing on a phone.

I wanted the S730, to replace my 2125, because of the size and the fact that it had both GPS and a Qwerty keyboard.

The reason for GPS is have a mobile phone in my autoMOBILE that would guide me on trips out of town. Carrying two devices, a mobile phone and a GPS, is a pain and requires two chargers etc.

I guess that I will get the AT&T Tilt instead, if it still has GPS that has not been locked to their navigation system.

[Paquette]

Whats the big deal about GPS?

I can't think of any reason why you would want such a thing on a phone.

I am living in North Rhine-Westphalia, a region in Germany which you may call "one big city" which makes navigation tedious. While on business trips I sometimes drive a car with a built-in navigation system, but most times not. Thus GPS comes in very helpful, especially if integrated in the phone. I don't like bothering with cables, chargers and adaptors.

Basically there were only two reasons why I didn't buy the S710: Too slow processor and no GPS.

Now I'd get a device with the same feature set (but a weaker battery) as my current TyTN. :(

The TyTN actually is an excellent PDA but a not-so-good phone, so upgrading to the TyTN II (with GPS) is no choice. I don't want to throw in EUR 700 to see if there is any improvement.

As the S730 seems to use the same "GPS-enabled" Qualcomm 7200 processor/chip-set like the TyTN II I was wondering if the GPS chip is indeed missing or only ROM-wise disabled.

If I remember correctly, there once was an HTC device for which an official ROM update was released which activated the integrated (but not advertised) GPS chip. Any hope for the S730?

[Insbee]

This looks like a nice a replacement for my 2125. Although I'd prefer to have GPS in my next smartphone.

I wonder if there's any chance AT&T will pick this one up (or any of the others HTC announced yesterday).

[Mike Temporale]

Is this the only product in the HTC announcement???

It's the only Smartphone (Standard) edition announcement. The rest are all PPC. Click the link above to take you to the Press Release and you'll see the other announcements. ;)

[altden]

Meh. No GPS == no sale. I might as well stick with my Dash then.

[heavyduty]

As the S730 seems to use the same "GPS-enabled" Qualcomm 7200 processor/chip-set like the TyTN II I was wondering if the GPS chip is indeed missing or only ROM-wise disabled.

If I remember correctly, there once was an HTC device for which an official ROM update was released which activated the integrated (but not advertised) GPS chip. Any hope for the S730?

That was the HTC Trinity, and yes, they did activate the GPS with a ROM update.

If this thing had GPS I'd be all over it. Instead, I'm considering the TytnII, but I'd prefer "more phone" and "less pda".

My guess is that it does have GPS but they decided to disable it, I don't see how that could have announced GPS and then take it out at the last minute. Let's hope that's the case and that they'll enable it. In the meantime, no sale. Once you go GPS you don't go back.

[PDADoc]

When this device was announced way back when, I was initially excited at the prospect of getting a device with the (then announced) specs. Now that it has been finally released, I'm very disappointed to see that the specs have changed from (initially) Tri-band UMTS to (post-release) UMTS 2100 only. I'm happy for the people in Europe, and I travel there quite often for work, but I have resolved to only purchase devices in the future that have Tri-band UMTS and WiFi to allow me the functionality and choice. It's the reason I've held onto my Treo 750 so long. Granted, it doesn't have WiFi, but with the UMTS and HSDPA, I find I don't often miss the WiFi.

Is it really that expensive to include a radio that works on all three bands????

I guess I'll have to take a look at the Cavalier now. I just got the TyTN II (Tilt), and it rocks, but I like to also have a WM Smartphone to switch to from time to time and the S730 just got knocked off my list. It's a shame.