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:

WehavecontactedSprintaboutcarrierrightstotheHTCHero,andtheyhaveconfirmedthatitisexclusivetothecarrier.