HTC today joined forces with Telstra and Microsoft to launch its HD2 handset in Australia, announcing a timed exclusive to the telco and a lower than expected price tag of AU$829 outright.
Telstra will sell the HTC HD2 through its stores and website from today, shipping unlocked handsets when purchased outright, or offering the phone on 24-month contracts starting from AU$80 per month. The HD2 is available exclusively through Telstra until 31 March.
This handset continues an ongoing partnership between HTC and Telstra to bring Microsoft Windows Mobile handsets to the market, and follows other HTC handsets released exclusive on the Next G network including the Touch Pro2 from July and the original HTC Touch HD this time last year.
The HD2 expands on the successful formula of last year’s HD, with the touchscreen now at 4.3 inches diagonally and making use of capacitive touchscreen technology; a first for a Windows Mobile device. Alongside a range of business tools, the HD2 also sports impressive consumer features including a 5-megapixel camera, Foxtel TV and a 16GB microSD included in the sales kit.
Its AU$829 price tag is a far cry from the hefty RRPs of previous HTC products. Both the Touch Pro2 and Touch HD handsets, for example, debuted with AU$1499 outright prices attached.