New images of the T-Mobile Shadow II Surface

[Rocco Augusto]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/10/more-pics-of-t.html' target='_blank'>http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/...-pics-of-t.html</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"T-Mobile seems to be on a roll. After the much talked about launch of the first Google Android operating system based phone, G1, the company seems to be readying to introduce the T-Mobile Shadow II smartphone. The original Shadow phone from HTC running Windows Mobile was a hit among consumers and not surprisingly it has spawned a successor. Leaked pictures of the Shadow II showed up in an online forum though the poster seems unclear whether it is the Shadow II or Shadow 3 phone."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/zt/auto/1223567941.usr8.jpg" /></p><p>One of the annoying things about the release of the Apple iPhone was a drop in the amount of new Windows Mobile Standard devices we have seen released. It is nice to see HTC hasn't forgotten about the individuals that would rather forego a touch screen. From what we can see from the images above, the T-Mobile Shadow II looks to be one slick slider phone. It is rumored that this device will be popping up in T-Mobile stores around October 15. The current rumored price for this device on a new two-year agreement is $180, which seems a little pricey since the T-Mobile G1 will be $199.99. Hopefully there will be a mail-in-rebate to make the price look more attractive to consumers.</p>

[Pony99CA]

The current rumored price for this device on a new two-year agreement is $180, which seems a little pricey since the T-Mobile G1 will be $199.99.
Perhaps, but why do you say that? Because the G1 has a touch screen and full keyboard?

As somebody at Wired pointed out, Windows Mobile phones may tend to be a bit more expensive than Android phones due to the licensing cost of Windows Mobile.

For me, anything under $200 for a smart phone is pretty reasonable. I paid well over that for my daughter's Verizon LG Voyager, which wasn't even a smart phone. :(

Steve

[Rocco Augusto]

Perhaps, but why do you say that? Because the G1 has a touch screen and full keyboard?

Not really the touch screen for the touch technology, but the larger screen and screen resolution, GPS, WiFi, 3G connectivity (not sure if the Shadow II has this), Desktop like web browser, Amazon MP3 store and a full QWERTY keyboard for only $20USD more than the rumored price on this handset sounds like a much better bargain if you're a consumer shopping around for a device you're going to be stuck with for the next few years. ;)

I don't think the price is high due to the licensing cost of the operating system, I think the price is high because making phones are expensive. Even buying a mid-range feature phone at retail price from T-Mobile will cost you $200-$250USD out of contract and the carriers only subsidies so much of the price.

The price of this handset isn't unreasonable but unfortunately T-Mobile can not follow the same pricing scheme consumers currently have for devices like the iPhone and the G1 where the carrier/manufacture loses out on a little bit of money on the hardware cost but make it up in spades with the subscription fees.

Windows Mobile Standard devices are just nowhere near as popular to be able to benefit from a sales method such as this, hence the higher price at point of sale.

[zeke009]

So what is in the Shadow II? Will it have a decent amount of memory, meaning I can ditch the laughable amount of memory I have in the Dash finally. Is it WinMo 6.1?

Can't seem to find much info about the phone.

Nevermind.. found em:
HTC Shadow II specs, features, and information (Phone Arena) (http://www.phonearena.com/htmls/-Shadow-II-phone-p_2794.html)