Sprint's HTC Touch Diamond: September 14 for $249.99. Honest.
by Chris Ziegler 
posted Sep 4th 2008 at 4:34PM
Now that Uncle Walt has gone and opened the floodgates, details are starting to pour in on Sprint's imminent release of the Touch Diamond, a device that should actually manage to get the carrier damn close to the top of the Windows Mobile pile (for a short while, anyway). PC Magazine is now reporting that it'll be available on September 14 for $249.99 on a two-year contract after $100 rebate, a sum that would put it squarely in the "average" category for on-contract smartphone pricing in these parts. Of course, with the Touch Pro allegedly just around the corner, it remains to be seen just how much love this thing is going to get; nothing like a good, old-fashioned QWERTY-versus-touchscreen fight, is there?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
MattR @ Sep 4th 2008 4:45PM
Let us know when Verizon Wireless gets the damn thing...
episodev @ Sep 4th 2008 5:17PM
Why is the back red :(
Mike @ Sep 4th 2008 5:40PM
I agree :( I think that's a dealbreaker for me.
mphayvanh @ Sep 4th 2008 7:23PM
It's cosmetic gentleman. You can change it later if you happen to buy the maroon one versus grey and black. Deal breaker. Vain people make me laugh!
Umeadi @ Sep 4th 2008 8:24PM
The red back does qualify as cosmetic, but unfortunately you cannot change it...maybe the batt cover. It'll still be red in between the housing and batt cover though.
Jason @ Sep 4th 2008 8:11PM
QWERTY vs touch screen?
The pro does have the touch screen key input as well, though why anyone would use it is beyond me...
So it's more like QWERTY + touch screen vs touch screen... The down side is a larger device. I've had a Helio Ocean for the past year, I've become used to the size (still, .3" thicker than the touch pro) and weight (a good 20g heavier than a touch pro), not an issue for me. I'm excited to switch.
The back shouldn't be red on the touch diamond? It's been black in all of the previous looks we've had at it, it just seems like the WSJ got a weird one. I'd imagine you can find a back cover from one of the euro GSM models and it would fit just fine -- though I'd rather have a matte softtouch finish instead of the gloss. Don't let the red back scare you!
Umeadi @ Sep 4th 2008 8:25PM
for the record the gsm and cdma housings are very different, and the gsm faceted cover will not fit the cdma model. I'm a little bummed about it myself, because I planned on doing the very same.
Achilles @ Sep 5th 2008 3:56PM
Yeah guys, Crave has said that it's a black/burgundy back for the Sprint model. This will be the backing for the Sprint Model. Not sure why they picked that color but this will be the color. YIKES!! Hope we can interchange it later through HTC or some aftermarket places.
Adrian L. @ Sep 4th 2008 8:51PM
I'm happy with the price. $249.99 is actually somewhat affordable.
Also waiting for Verizon.
plh2034 @ Sep 4th 2008 8:52PM
I seriously doubt it will only be that color.
I hope it hits the stores on the 14th, i want to play with the interface and see what all the hubbub is about
Rick G @ Sep 4th 2008 9:26PM
I'm torn between the two. I love the pull-out keyboard but hate the thickness.
.
Brian @ Sep 4th 2008 10:16PM
I suggest waiting til Black Friday, guarantee BestBuy (or Sprint) has a $99 deal on this phone. If not, it'll be $149-199 by Xmas. $249 in the post-iphone world is bad business, Sprint knows it (and priced the Instinct appropriately).
SouthStae019 @ Sep 4th 2008 10:24PM
they priced the instinct properly because it is supposed to take on the instinct. + its also a samsung they price their handsets very nicely. the mogul came out around the iphone and even after 1 year it is nearly the same price. no change. i doubt this phone is going to drop in price. not that
SouthStae019 @ Sep 5th 2008 1:00AM
edit: second instinct = iphone.
Jackson @ Sep 5th 2008 3:16AM
what about the back cover of the telus version? Or maybe even the verizon one? i think that the telus one is a victor and the verizon one wont be though
Hush @ Sep 5th 2008 8:41AM
Good point. I too really dislike that red/maroon cover. It had at least better be rubberized.
Umeadi @ Sep 5th 2008 12:11PM
I could be wrong, but from the shots I've seen of the bottom of this thing, the rear bezel, not just the battery cover appears to be red as well. While I'm sure the telus and vzw batt covers will fit, I think your best option for having an all black diamond will be to wait until the other carrier's housings become available.
alltouchdiamondcom @ Oct 20th 2008 6:58PM
When is verizon getting this thing? Why are AT&T & Sprint always get hotter phones than Verizon?
Maybe it's time to switch to GSM verizon? Three's already a forum out there called http://www.AllTouchDiamond.com
Mofo @ Sep 5th 2008 12:07PM
Haha, all of you on Verizon are gonna be sorely disappointed when this thing hits your carrier. Verizon is not only getting the Diamond late in the game, they're neutering it as well. Slower, no internal storage, less memory, yeah, Verizon loves you guys!
"It's the network!" Yeah, it better be, because it sure as hell isn't the devices.
jerseyj @ Sep 9th 2008 5:20PM
were do u get this info? im guessing you got slighted by vzw, just like ur guessing verizon is goin to nueter this phone
techgeek32 @ Sep 7th 2008 1:20AM
Sprint will be getting both Red and Black in the Touch Diamond. The Red might be first though. Regardless of the color it should be a great new product. I agree with the comment about Verizon. If they would just use their power and size to get these devices first and not disable every feature on them and maybe lower their plans just a little they would have a much larger market share in the cellular world.
Achilles @ Sep 5th 2008 2:57PM
I'm also torn. Hate the thickness from the Touch Pro. I just want to get my hands on it and play the interface so that I can see what type of response the Diamond has. I hate that the Diamond doesn't have a SIM card. This is the work-around for the WinMo problems but it can't be used now that the Diamond doesn't have a SIM card.
:(
Achilles @ Sep 5th 2008 3:59PM
Yeah guys, Crave has said that it's a black/burgundy back for the Sprint model. This will be the backing for the Sprint Model. Not sure why they picked that color but this will be the color. YIKES!! Hope we can interchange it later through HTC or some aftermarket places.
Montusama @ Sep 7th 2008 1:32AM
Well this might be a phone i'll get but I get to pay full price....so I probably won't soo much
seems like the mogul might be the only phone for me....