Hands-on with the HTC Hermes / T-Mobile MDA Vario II

by Thomas Ricker, posted Mar 9th 2006 at 12:43PM

Last time we saw the HTC Hermes was at the 3GSM show. It's since made its way North, now sitting squarly in the halls of CeBIT. But you'd never know it -- no name on the shell, no display card detailing what the device is -- nothing. Just sitting there hoping for someone like us to come along and give it some love. Destined to appear with T-Mobile Germany this May as the MDA Vario II, this UMTS / HSDPA flauntin' Pocket PC still sports the specs we heard before: 300MHz Samsung processor, 128MB flash and 64MB memory, 2.8-inch display, 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.0, MicroSD, 2.1 megapixel camera, and a secondary videoconferencing camera. The MDA Vario II wasn't on the HSDPA network while we were giving it a walk-through, but then again it's always good to leave wanting just a bit more. Way too many snaps after the break.

Filed under: Handsets, HTC, T-Mobile

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

EVPohovich @ Mar 9th 2006 1:03PM

Nice processor, but no expandable memory?

I AM liking the direction these new phones are taking though, sexy styling.

Neutral

Neil @ Mar 9th 2006 1:05PM

Why do you taunt me so? The MDA just came out here in the states, and already they have this thing in Europe.

Neutral

phi @ Mar 9th 2006 1:05PM

I'm not a big windows mobile fan these days, but this makes me drool.

Neutral

Stalin Acosta @ Mar 9th 2006 1:59PM

I have cingular 8125 running a 200 mhz. I wonder if it is worth it to upgrade to get 100mhz in speed.

Neutral

Billy_McSkintos @ Mar 9th 2006 2:43PM

The lottery is a tax on idiots

Neutral

Mike V. @ Mar 9th 2006 2:53PM

I was soo close to purchasing the MDA for t-mobile here in the States, but i figured i could hold out for this one. The UTMS/HSDPA connection on this thing is perfect (plus i couldn't justify paying 29.99/month for the speed of an EDGE connection). If Cingular can pick this up at the end of this year with compatibility with their new 3g network, you can expect me to be one of the first ones in line.

Neutral

werdmodo @ Mar 9th 2006 3:57PM

This is a lot of phone in a small package. Another HTC hit.

Neutral

Brian @ Mar 9th 2006 5:05PM

Sweet looking style to that thing...even if it is WM....

Neutral

Mark McCormack @ Mar 9th 2006 5:12PM

Have just spent the past week dueling with the Cingular 8125, trying to get both ActiveSync and IMAP to connect properly (finally succeded). I'm interested to see that they've partially addressed my pet-peeve with the Wizard/8125, which is the lack of a physical numeric key-pad. Its "virtual" touch-screen keypad is annoyingly small, much smaller than the Palm Treo 650.

Neutral

Red_Munk!! @ Mar 9th 2006 5:16PM

As good as the MDA looks, i havnt been hearing good stuff abt it.

Anyone actually using it?.

What do u guys think?

Neutral

Dookie45 @ Mar 9th 2006 5:20PM

Is "microSD" the same as "miniSD" or is this a totaly new format?

Neutral

shamste @ Mar 9th 2006 5:32PM

It looks like they have finally grouped the number buttons together similat to a phone keypad. That was my biggest complaint about the MDA (Wizard) when I tried it out because every time I went to dial a number manually (dear lord!) it was like the MDA was beating me over the head saying, "I'm really just a PDA that happens to be able to take calls."

Neutral

Red @ Mar 9th 2006 5:57PM

What's the thickness?

(Compared to 8125)

Neutral

Kevin @ Mar 9th 2006 11:11PM

Hi, does anyone know if I can drop in a prepaid tmobile sim card and access the internet? If so, how fast would the connection be? Edge? If so, I'm totally gonna buy one.

Neutral

Frank (a.k.a. Frankenstein) Black @ Mar 10th 2006 2:17AM

Sweet finally a small package with a keyboard, WiFi/UMTS/HSDPA that also has a decent processor that can run Skype mobile. If this thing hits Cingular, I am so in there. Hum, Skype to Skype VOIP over UMTS. Yea, wiretap that G-DUBYA!!

Neutral

John @ Mar 10th 2006 7:51AM

This device looks a bit smaller than the XV6700/PPC6700/MDA Wizard phones currently available.

I also like the new numeric keypad layout for making phone calls. Much easier to quickly dial.

Neutral

D Nicole @ Mar 10th 2006 3:47PM

When does this beautiful instrument release to TMobile in the US?

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