HTC HD2 Almost Certainly Getting Windows Mobile 7

[Ed Hardy]

Smartphone users who want to buy a device that they know will get an upgrade to Windows Mobile 7 when it's released this fall should seriously consider the HTC HD2 -- sources at HTC have said this device will be getting an upgrade to the next major version of this operating system from Microsoft.

HTC Russia recently promised that the HD2 will be getting Windows Mobile 7, and warned that this would be the only current model from this company to do so. This message came in the form of a Tweet, which was quickly removed. 

In addition, Terry Snelling on the HTC customer support team reportedly e-mailed a customer a promise that the HD2 will be getting the version 7 upgrade when it becomes available in November.

What's Coming in Windows Mobile 7?
There has been no official word from HTC on upgrades to the next version of Windows Mobile because Microsoft has not yet formally announced it. This might happen at the Mobile World Congress next month, though.

At this point, few specifics are known, but it is reportedly going to make Windows phones more appealing to consumers with a new look that offers much greater support for fingertip control and capacitive touchscreens.

An Overview of the HTC HD2
The HD2 (AKA the HTC Leo) is possibly the most cutting-edge model available today with Microsoft's mobile operating system; it has 1 GHz processor, and sports a 4.3-inch WVGA capacitive display with multi-touch support.

It was one of the first devices on the market with Microsoft's Windows Mobile 6.5 Pro, but it has a new version of HTC's custom user interface layered on top. This used to be called TouchFLO, but has just been renamed HTC Sense to reflect a greater focus on consumers.

It lacks a hardware keyboard, but that's just about the only feature it doesn't have.

The HTC HD2 is the first Windows Mobile smartphone with a capacitive display that supports multi-touch, so users can resize websites, Microsoft Office files, PDF documents and pictures easier with a pinch of their fingers.

This 4.3-inch display is the largest yet on a smartphone running Microsoft's OS, and has a WVGA (800x480) resolution.

Naturally, the HD2 has mobile broadband (7.2 Mbps HSDPA), plus it includes Wi-Fi b/g and Bluetooth 2.1. It is even be able to act as a Wi-Fi router for another computer.

It also includes a whopping 448 MB of RAM, a 5 MPx camera with auto-focus, a microSD card reader, GPS receiver, 1,230 mAh battery, and a 3.5 mm headset jack.

This HTC device comes with Windows Mobile's standard collection of mobile apps: Outlook, Office, Media Player. Opera Mobile is the default web browser.

Coming to T-Mobile USA
The HD2 was launched in Europe and Asia this fall, and currently is available in the U.S. only from gray-market retails.

However, T-Mobile USA announced last week that it will be releasing this high-end smartphone at some point in the spring.

Source: xda-developers, TMoNews

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• HTC Touch Pro2 for T-Mobile Review
• HTC HD2 Preview
• T-Mobile Slashes Prices on BlackBerry, Android, and Windows Mobile Smartphones

[NamelessPlayer]

Do you think that the HTC HD2 being the only current HTC device to even have a chance of running Windows Mobile 7 has to do with it also being the only current HTC device with a capacitive multi-touch digitizer at the moment?

[Hook]

Do you think that the HTC HD2 being the only current HTC device to even have a chance of running Windows Mobile 7 has to do with it also being the only current HTC device with a capacitive multi-touch digitizer at the moment?

My guess would be that, while that helps, it is the overall specs, including the Snapdragon CPU.

[The Turtle]

Interesting. I'd give the device a second look provided WM7 lives up to expectations.