HTC Hero official for Sprint, comes on October 11

posted by Ray S. / Sep 03, 2009, 8:36 AM

HTC Hero official for Sprint, comes on October 11

Sprint has finally put an end to all speculations and made the Android-powered HTC Hero official. Release date has also been announced, so those willing to purchase it should go to Sprint’s retail channels on October 11. You will be able to get it for $179.99 (excluding taxes) after a $100 mail-in rebate and with a two-year service agreement.

The HTC Hero for Sprint will not be just a CDMA version of the best Android handset we have used this far. It will have a new design, lacking the famous chin, which was so distinctive for HTC’s Android products. The keys needed for Android to work seem to be touch-sensitive, instead of hardware ones like in the GSM version.

Some of the most important features coming with the Hero include, of course, the colourful Sense UI, a 5MP camera, 3.5mm jack, GPS, stereo Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and 3G. In addition, this will be the third phone for Sprint to feature visual voicemail after the Instinct and the Instinct s30.

HTC Hero Specifications | Review (GSM)

source: Sprint

Update:

We have contacted Sprint about carrier rights to the HTC Hero, and they have confirmed that it is exclusive to the carrier.

The HTC Hero for Sprint will have a different design - HTC Hero official for Sprint, comes on October 11

The HTC Hero for Sprint will have a different design

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22 Comments

1. realism121

Posts: 67; Member since: Aug 16, 2008

FINALLY!!!!! :) Please PlEAsE PLEASE let this phone be amazing! PLEASE let the lagging have been fixed! i've been waiting for an sprint to get an amazing phone and this could FINALLY be what i've been waiting for! i cannot wait to go into a sprint store to play around with this phone!!

posted on Oct 20, 2010, 1:43 AM 0

2. artz1986

Posts: 453; Member since: Mar 11, 2009

What's with the US and boring looking phones? Why would htc & Sprint decide to redesign a stylish phone, and turn it into another flat-faced vanilla phone. I know it's not all about the hardware, but that's what's so great about the original Hero, that chin made it what it is...that's suppose to be htc's signature touch. Plus the chin has purpose, it makes the phone more comfortable to use, and because of the angle, it's not going to be 100% in direct sunlight when you're outside. Anyway, I'll wait for the unlocked US GSM virsion to come out.....

posted on Sep 03, 2009, 10:51 AM 0

3. realism121

Posts: 67; Member since: Aug 16, 2008

shut up. seriously...just shut up.

posted on Sep 03, 2009, 11:13 AM 0

18. Cooper33

Posts: 25; Member since: Jul 31, 2009

hahahahaha well said.

posted on Sep 03, 2009, 9:01 PM 0

4. tmofanboy432

Posts: 139; Member since: Jan 12, 2009

that looks like a mytouch 3g

posted on Sep 03, 2009, 11:16 AM 0

22. GXnext

Posts: 4; Member since: Sep 07, 2009

Yes I agree, but you have to admit a bit nicer =]

posted on Sep 07, 2009, 2:03 PM 0

5. tigermcm

Posts: 861; Member since: Sep 02, 2009

Is the track ball gone

posted on Sep 03, 2009, 12:04 PM 0

21. GXnext

Posts: 4; Member since: Sep 07, 2009

No, it still has a track ball. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKLp0U-x1Uk

posted on Sep 07, 2009, 2:00 PM 0

6. Mali Mal

Posts: 35; Member since: Apr 09, 2008

Now to all the sprint haters... Can we say that sprint has the best prices and the best phone lineup now?!?

posted on Sep 03, 2009, 12:07 PM 0

7. artz1986

Posts: 453; Member since: Mar 11, 2009

..no..

posted on Sep 03, 2009, 12:12 PM 0

8. VZWfangirl

Posts: 71; Member since: Jul 25, 2009

Sprints version is a MAJOR FAIL. I can't believe they did this. The Hero was beautiful and they destroyed it by making it look like any other HTC phone. Looks just like the My Touch. Sprint would have had a great line up had they not screwed up the Hero. Teflon coating gone, style gone. I'm upset and I'm not even on Sprint! SoonerDiddy76 It makes it a fail because the look is the first thing on your phone!

posted on Sep 03, 2009, 12:13 PM 0

9. SoonerDiddy76

Posts: 4; Member since: Jun 19, 2009

I agree that I don't like the look of this phone compared to the GSM version, but tell me how THAT ALONE makes it a fail? I mean, it's disappointing, but either the phone itself is good or it's not. Plus, it doesn't alone raise the quality of any of the other phones. Personally, I am a Sprint customer right now, but am simply waiting on the iPhone to go somewhere other than AT&T. I tried to avoid the iPhone, and got an Instinct, but alas, the App Store is what distinguishes it from any other phone. Plus, look at all the accessories that are made for it along with the apps. It works as a phone, AND, it does so many other things that you may want. THAT is customization of a phone. Unfortunately, Android was too late. Otherwise, the Hero might have as much in app options. Developers are willing to make some stuff for Android or WM, but not to the degree of iPhone. So, when my Instinct contract is up, I'm jumping ship, unless a miracle happens and Sprint lands the iPhone...I won't hold my breath. It's really too bad, because I don't mind their network for the most part, and their everything plan is pretty damn good, I think...yeah customer service is bad, but usually is everywhere. I've drifted off the topic some, but the bottom line is, the look of a phone isn't going to make or break an entire company's line-up!

posted on Sep 03, 2009, 12:54 PM 0

10. Jyakotu

Posts: 867; Member since: Dec 12, 2008

Even though the look has changed, this and the HTC Touch Pro CDMA on Sprint are probably the only phones I'd want from Sprint.

posted on Sep 03, 2009, 1:09 PM 0

11. tigermcm

Posts: 861; Member since: Sep 02, 2009

ok I have a question....is it the phone company or the manufactor that determines how the phone will look?

posted on Sep 03, 2009, 2:06 PM 0

16. Cooper33

Posts: 25; Member since: Jul 31, 2009

yeah, that's a good question. but either way, everyone just blames the phone company because we assume that the phone company has a large say in how the product THEY sell looks.

posted on Sep 03, 2009, 6:06 PM 0

17. tigermcm

Posts: 861; Member since: Sep 02, 2009

Well it seems the have some kind of say but I dont think too much. If some people take the time to see look at the touch pro 2......every phone company's version is the same except the color. So I am starting to believe it is up to the manufactor.

posted on Sep 03, 2009, 7:56 PM 0

19. Cooper33

Posts: 25; Member since: Jul 31, 2009

hmm, perhaps. i guess the phone company has a pretty big say on the phones capabilities tho, like their exclusive tv service and stuff like that. but a lot of verizon phones don't even support vcast video... but this is sprint, and they usually put all their exclusive network features on their phones, which is a good thing.

posted on Sep 03, 2009, 9:04 PM 0

12. MrRihannaFenty

Posts: 15; Member since: Sep 03, 2009

i really dont like the design. Its not appealing and that just threw me off completely. To hell with the specs and stuff. Yeah, thats important but I also want a phone that is very stylish and that nobody would posibly have

posted on Sep 03, 2009, 2:08 PM 0

13. sniperace

Posts: 95; Member since: Aug 20, 2009

My big question is the battery life? I put the sprint version in a compare test and the spec sheet showed it now only has 4hr of talk time WTF happened? from 7 hrs to 4hrs please let this be a typo?!!