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View Full Version : Unlocked HTC Touch Dual Launching in the US This Weekend


Darius Wey
05-23-2008, 08:15 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8827807&st=touch+dual&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1207957070005' target='_blank'>http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...d=1207957070005</a><br /><br /></div><img border="1" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/spt/auto/1211568548.usr2.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br />Another weekend is approaching, but that typical wind down period isn't stopping <a href="http://www.bestbuy.com/" target="_blank">Best Buy</a> from gearing up for the US launch of the <em>unlocked</em> <a href="http://www.htc.com/www/product.aspx?id=142" target="_blank">HTC Touch Dual</a>. This version features the 20-key layout, quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE and dual-band HSDPA (850MHz/1900MHz) connectivity, and Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional. So, if you're eager for some 6.1 action and simply can't wait for the Touch Diamond to make an appearance, gather $549.99 and head over to your local Best Buy or <a href="http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8827807&amp;st=touch+dual&amp;lp=1&amp;type=product&amp;cp=1&amp;id=1207957070005" target="_blank">shop online</a> this weekend.

Phillip Dyson
05-23-2008, 09:43 PM
I've been eye-ing the Touch Cruise but now that I have something that I can ... er ... touch, I may run out to Best Buy to check it out.

Of course I've also been eye-ing the Velocity models too, but like so many other phones, there's not release date. Then I suppose I'd have to wait another 6 months before they were available.

beq
05-23-2008, 09:48 PM
I'm looking to get new cellphones for 3 family members who are mainstream (non-PDA/smartphone) users on AT&T, since their contracts expire end of this month. They all prefer physical keypad buttons so that rules out the 3G iPhone ;)

I can't decide whether to get them all the new AT&T Motorola Z9 (http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=1419) or this unlocked HTC Touch Dual US version. Direct from AT&T the Moto Z9 is subsidized to $200 for renewing customers (I think $300-350 otherwise). I believe the Z9 phone itself is only available in the US with an AT&T firmware. Whereas the Touch Dual US version is $550 unlocked from Best Buy, usable with AT&T or T-Mobile.

I consider the Moto Z9 (4.49" x 2.11" x 0.55" @ 4.94oz) to be AT&T's best feature phone in slider formfactor. HSDPA 3.6, 2.4" (non-touchscreen) QVGA, side buttons with haptic vibration feedback, A-GPS with LBS, 2MP cam with LED, MP3/AAC/WMA/Real player with PlaysForsure, microSDHC, stereo BT, speaker-independent voice dialing, micro-USB data/charging port with audio, Opera browser, old proprietary Synergy OS, etc.

Most reviews extoll the Z9's excellent build, display, voice quality and signalling. AT&T firmware means out-of-the-box support for all features such as AT&T Navigator turn-by-turn directions, AT&T Mobile Music (Napster/XM), AT&T Video Share, etc.

The Touch Dual US version (4.21" x 2.17" x 0.62" @ 4.23oz) has a lot of the same features, along with Windows Mobile 6.1 Pro, 2.6" QVGA touchscreen with TouchFLO finger interface, 20-key phone/QWERTY combo with SureType, more built-in user memory, etc. It doesn't have GPS nor camera flash though (and no Wi-Fi either!). But obviously WinMo offers great advantages such as Exchange with push, and all the 3rd-party software. On the other hand, not being customized for AT&T means some of the carrier's features aren't conveniently available.

In the end the Touch Dual does sound great, especially for my family members who already use Exchange. But how easy is it for them to use compared to a the Moto Z9 feature phone with AT&T firmware? I don't have experience with the latest HTC WM 6 phones, but no one in my family ever liked using any of my previous Pocket PCs! Too clunky in everyday use...

randalllewis
05-23-2008, 11:15 PM
I was seriously looking at this phone and the Touch Cruise and lamenting that I couldn't touch one but only admire from the web. In the end I went with the Cruise because of wifi and placed an order having never held either phone. I know that is common with many users on this site, but it was a first for me. In the past, I've always chosen my phone from my carrier's store. I know I was missing out on lots of possible models with that approach, so I took the plunge to the mail order, unlocked world! My Cruise is not supposed to arrive until next week, but I guess I'll head out to Best Buy to play with the Touch FLO on the Dual while I wait.

beq
05-24-2008, 01:21 AM
The photos of this US version still shows a second front-facing camera. I don't think either AT&T or T-Mobile supports 3G video calling (yet), so how is it useful? Do European carriers support this?

Darius Wey
05-24-2008, 07:10 AM
The photos of this US version still shows a second front-facing camera. I don't think either AT&T or T-Mobile supports 3G video calling (yet), so how is it useful? Do European carriers support this?

Video calls are quite prevalent in Europe, Australia and Asia.

AT&T's just putting the finishing touches to its 3G network. I'm not sure what the carrier has planned for video calls, although I can't imagine there being any major restrictions.

griph
05-24-2008, 12:04 PM
Video calls are quite prevalent in Europe, Australia and Asia.

e.g. the rest of the world - this is a mass produced device! For all the backwardness we run into in the world, it still beggars belief that the US are so far behind in power and mobile telecoms. I'm very happy with my Touch Dual 20 key device - had it since October 2007! :-)

beq
05-26-2008, 04:55 AM
AT&T's 3G only has an optional paid feature called Video Share which is one-way user-to-user video streaming. Basically both you and your caller have to have one of the pre-approved phones (Moto Z9 and some Samsung/LG models), and be on the monthly-fee or pay-per-minute addon Video Share plan. Then one side can start streaming the video from his phone camera to the other side.

The feature is focused on sharing whatever you're seeing in front of you as opposed to a videoconferencing type application. In other words you would use the camera on the back of the phone (not a front-facing camera which would just capture your own face)...

randalllewis
05-26-2008, 10:05 PM
I just got my hands on a Dual for a few minutes at Best Buy. They had them locked under the display case. BB usually just displays dummy phones, but after striking up a conversation with an employee, he pulled a working Dual out of its box and let me play with it. My verdict: I am even more anxious for my Cruise to arrive. I've watched lots of demos of Touch FLO but until you actually use it, you are not quite sure. It works great. I discovered it does require a modest amount of pressure on the screen to work and my initial tendancy was too light a touch. I love the photo album program and it works as advertised. The Dual is certainly lighter than my TILT but not a great deal smaller. The keyboard function is very nice and even though it is only a 20 key model, it is handier than that on the TILT because you don't need to shift it around in your hands. I didn't get to try the onscreen keyboard which is similar to the Cruise because wouldn't you know it, as soon as I got to play with the Dual, other customers were drawn to it and wanted their shot. The Dual doesn't have wifi and I really want that, so I guess regardless of the input prowess of the Cruise, I will be sticking with it- if it ever gets here.

Phillip Dyson
05-27-2008, 02:03 PM
Hmmm.
I went to my Best Buy this Saturday to look at the Dual and they didn't have one. Although the worker's initial reaction gave me the impression that he didn't know what I was talking about.

Perhaps it will be in the display this week.

amg212
05-27-2008, 04:23 PM
I was in a BestBuy in NJ this weekend. In the "unlocked phones" section of the cellular area, there was a mock-up of the Touch Dual. However, no price tag. The sales people not only didn't seem to know about the phone, they said that it isn't in their system and they have no idea why the dummy is out there for a phone that the store doesn't carry. Never mind the fact that one of the people I talked to turned out to be the very person who placed the dummy on the display rack :-)

Phillip Dyson
05-27-2008, 07:13 PM
The Best Buy website is listing it for Pre-Order. I wonder if it sold out that fast.

aarcam
05-27-2008, 08:12 PM
I picked one up this weekend. Had to drive 2 hours to pick it up as the local stores don’t receive any, and the store I drove to only had 3 in stock. There was a dummy model on the floor but there was no price on it, no name either if I remember correctly.

Phillip, The phone has been listed as Pre-Order since around the beginning of May. I assume they are stocking the BB Mobile stores first and then it will be available online. That is pure conjecture though.

I am switching from a Smartphone, sans touch screen, so it is a bit of an adjustment for me. First though is that it works great as a phone (#1 priority for me) and for light email, texting, multi-media. Build quality is excellent IMHO and the packaging and included accessories is well sorted, although that would be expected in this price range.

Still getting use to the 20 key suretype keypad. The numerous onscreen options available are a nice alternative allowing for easy operation 1 handed or two handed, slider open or closed.

The touch cube is pretty cool. I would like to modify it just a bit to completely suit my needs, but out of the box it offers great access to the main function I am wanting out of the device. Much smoother and intuitive than the standard MS interface. The HTC home is nice as well. Once I get the phone configured to my liking, I can see only using those two elements to access everything I need.

Not really a review, just some random thoughts, sorry to digress. closing thought would; be so far it is a great device.

Phillip Dyson
06-09-2008, 02:41 PM
I had a chance to look at the Touch Dual this weekend. I wasn't a working model, but I have to say its compact.

With all of the high-end phones on the horizon, I actually found my self contemplating replacing my x800 with this. But then I decided to wait a little longer for the horizon.

It seems like a very nice phone.

Phillip Dyson
06-11-2008, 01:54 AM
I just pulled the trigger on the Dual today. Its charging as we speak. I realized that other than the GPS, this had everything that I was looking for in the Cruise.
Hardware buttons aside. And the price was right.

I figure this will keep me happy for the next few months while Samsung and others get their deployments straightened out.

My girlfriend was not help of course. I usually take the conservative approach, but she thought it was so cool when she saw it. I couldn't not buy it.

Phillip Dyson
06-20-2008, 06:10 PM
Okay, I know I'm slow, but I just figured out the predictive typing on the Dual. Its great! Half the time I don't even need to look at the screen. I spent most of the time trying to use multi-touch on the keys.

Also, does anyone know how to modify the phone profiles? I don't see a setting any where to do this. I suspect that sms and emails are not vibrating when I have the phone on vibrate.

aarcam
06-24-2008, 03:58 PM
WM Pro does not have profiles like the WM standard (non touchscreen devices, I forget what they call it these days). To change the alert notice go to Settings > Sounds & Notifications (can be found under the Personal Tab) and click on the Notifications tab. You can assign the action under Ring type.

One other thought is that the vibrate is not very strong. I put the device in my front pocket, screen in. I have to check it regularly otherwise when walking or not sitting with the device pressed against my leg, I will miss notifications.

Typing on it rocks. I still need a bit more time on the ole learning curve to really nail it, but I feel pretty fast.

Only complaint to date is the little rubber flap over the charge port. Never have I had one that holds up and this one is not the exception. Why do manufactures insist on using them when they do nothing but look bad, get in the way and eventually fall off? Mine is still on, but is loose enough that it pops out of place in my pocket. I have had it maybe 1 month. I charge my device daily, sometimes more, so I have to move the flap every time and try and get it back in place. The euro one did not have a flap. What are they saying about the US? Sorry, [rant off/]

Phillip Dyson
06-24-2008, 04:50 PM
Only complaint to date is the little rubber flap over the charge port. Never have I had one that holds up and this one is not the exception. Why do manufactures insist on using them when they do nothing but look bad, get in the way and eventually fall off? Mine is still on, but is loose enough that it pops out of place in my pocket. I have had it maybe 1 month. I charge my device daily, sometimes more, so I have to move the flap every time and try and get it back in place. The euro one did not have a flap. What are they saying about the US? Sorry, [rant off/]

I agree about the flap, I have to struggle with opening and closing it multiple times a day to synch with my work computer. Then to charge it at night.