HTC Universal and The USA [Archive]

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auburnham

09-06-2005, 07:32 PM

I've had the Wallaby since T-Mobile (USA) offered it (I think about three years). I've gotten a lot of good use out of it, mostly thanks to this forum. However, it's time for me to upgrade, and I'd like some feedback from everyone.
First, I'd like to upgrade to a device that has an intergraded keyboard, since my wife has the h4355 and, comparing usage of her device to mine in that respect, it is indispensable in my opinion. So if I upgraded now I would like to get a Blue Angel clone.
But, all these glowing reviews and pictures of the HTC Universal tempt me to wait to upgrade. It truly looks like a dream device!
Since I live in the USA, though, our carriers may not pick this up for another year (if at all?), and at my rate of years-per-upgrade I would probably miss out on quite a bit. So here are what seem to be my choices at the moment:

1.) Forget about getting my hands on the Universal for the next year (or longer), upgrade to the BA now.
2.) Wait until it is released in Europe and probably pay well over $1000 to buy it from a third party.
3.) It is worth the wait for a US carrier to pick it up. It may be a shorter time than I think.
4.) Other.

So which would you do?

Other things to keep in mind are that there are no decent BA's currently offered by any of the US carriers, they are all stripped versions, minus this feature or that feature. So I would have to get one of those from Europe anyway. Do you think US carriers will strip the Universal the same way they have with the BA? Additionally, as someone else previously mentioned, how much do you expect the Universal to be, if the BA is currently around $800?
Can anyone offer any speculation of cost or release date in the USA?
Thanks for the feedback!

Shawn

AdmiralAK

17-06-2005, 05:37 PM

I think that the universal keyboard will be better than the thumboard on the BA - so you should not buy a BA now, unless you REALLY need something now.

The Universal will be released in europe probably sometime in september from what I have been hearing, so you can get it in a few months for the "normal" price of 900-1200 (which is what the range was for the BA when it originally came out)

It is not likely that US carriers will release this. *maybe* T-mobile will release it, but judging from their past history, it seems unlikely.

Cingular will DEFINATELLY not release it because it lacks GSM 850. Also the UMTS band that is on the universal is not 1900/850 which is what Cingular uses and will use in the future. if the universal was quadband GSM and triband UMTS it might have been a different story.

If you are on the T-Mo network and really want it, just get it when it gets released in europe. That way you have form, function and the WOW factor since it wont be released in the US ;)

Note to HTC: please, please, please make the next version of the universal quadband GSM and at least dual band UMTS (1900/2100)

Daimaou

18-06-2005, 11:01 AM

I will select the "WAIT" if I were you, T-Mobile in NYC was not able to setup my Qetk 9090 on GPRS, the anwser of their failure... we do not know this device... :? (however I succeed to make it work) But I would also wait, PocketPC Italia is talking about 2 devices this year and more coming in 2006 :D It only depends on how "wealthy" you are but well if you purchase the Universal and that a 9090 like shows up... what will you do?

By the way if you are in the Chicago area you may find a lost Universal ;)

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/_assets/video/TechEd/Final-MobilityV7-300K.wvx

Bottom line this is a nice devie not SO big but the lack of Screen control on the body (like a communicator) may make it borring to use (my 2 cents)

TheLastOne

29-06-2005, 01:50 AM

Perhaps North American users can wait and hope for an 850 MHz model, like done with the JAM.

rictec

29-06-2005, 03:06 AM

Daimaou

29-06-2005, 02:12 PM

i dont know whyi anybody that has already a HTC machine capable of using win2005 will upgrade for a company that dont support the machines they build.

i will stay with my qtek2020 and if i dont have 2005 for it i will choose another manufacter....

........

There are some people on earth, like, who are FED UP of only being able to use his 9090 only when he is outside of his country... In Japan we ONLY HAVE 3G... and I cannot use the phone function of my 9090 that I love when I m in a GSM country... so I will buy again and again and again ANY HTC Products simply because of their amazing quality and potential (look around can you cook an iPAQ 4700 or a Treo? and how EASY it is to change a rom) and with a Phone capability...

Cheers