Verizon to Offer HTC Touch Pro 2 for $200. Supports CDMA/EVDO forthe U.S., all GSM and W-CDMA bands for Europe and Asia (U.S. GSM disabledin firmware)

"http://gizmodo.com/5356338/htc-touch-pro2-gets-its-first-reasonable-price-tag-courtesy-of-verizon"

Interestingly enough, the phone _is_ capable of operating on the U.S.
GSM/W-CDMA bands used by AT&T (but not T-Mobiles 1700 MHz CDMA), but it
is locked to prevent its use on these bands.

According to documents filed with the FCC, HTC stated:

"We, HTC Corporation declare that CDMA is the main network used in
the US; the GSM network function has been disabled by firmware and is
SIM locked for all U.S. operators for the following products.

1. Model Name RHOD400; FCC ID: NM8RHOD400
2. Model Name RHOD500; FCC ID: NM8RHOD500

"http://wmpoweruser.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/fccrhodium-thumb.jpg"

So I guess that settles the CDMA versus GSM argument once and for all
(in reality CDMA has slightly more than 50% of the U.S. market, and a
small but growing market share in Europe and Asia).

For those wondering why HTC would file this declaration, it's because
they now do not have to pass FCC EMI certifications for any of the GSM
or W-CDMA bands for the product.

Would it be possible to buy an "unlocked" version? And later connect
to Verizon?

I see on German and UK Ebay sites that this phone unlocked, is being
offerred
Thanks
Mahl

On Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:33:15 -0700, SMS <scharf.steven@geemail.com>
wrote:

>"http://gizmodo.com/5356338/htc-touch-pro2-gets-its-first-reasonable-price-tag-courtesy-of-verizon"
>
>Interestingly enough, the phone _is_ capable of operating on the U.S.
>GSM/W-CDMA bands used by AT&T (but not T-Mobiles 1700 MHz CDMA), but it
>is locked to prevent its use on these bands.
>
>According to documents filed with the FCC, HTC stated:
>
> "We, HTC Corporation declare that CDMA is the main network used in
> the US; the GSM network function has been disabled by firmware and is
> SIM locked for all U.S. operators for the following products.
>
> 1. Model Name RHOD400; FCC ID: NM8RHOD400
> 2. Model Name RHOD500; FCC ID: NM8RHOD500
>
>"http://wmpoweruser.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/fccrhodium-thumb.jpg"
>
>So I guess that settles the CDMA versus GSM argument once and for all
>(in reality CDMA has slightly more than 50% of the U.S. market, and a
>small but growing market share in Europe and Asia).
>
>For those wondering why HTC would file this declaration, it's because
>they now do not have to pass FCC EMI certifications for any of the GSM
>or W-CDMA bands for the product.

Mahlon Wagner wrote:
> Would it be possible to buy an "unlocked" version? And later connect
> to Verizon?

Unlikely. I presume you mean unlocking it for use in Europe and Asia,
not for use on the U.S. GSM/3G bands.

Perhaps someone will figure out how to unlock it.

It would make no sense to unlock the U.S. GSM bands since anyone in the
U.S. would want to use it on Verizon, not only for the better coverage,
but for the handset subsidy.

"SMS" <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote in message
news:4ace05eb$0$1593$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
> "http://gizmodo.com/5356338/htc-touch-pro2-gets-its-first-reasonable-price-tag-courtesy-of-verizon"
>
> Interestingly enough, the phone _is_ capable of operating on the U.S.
> GSM/W-CDMA bands used by AT&T (but not T-Mobiles 1700 MHz CDMA), but it is
> locked to prevent its use on these bands.
>
> According to documents filed with the FCC, HTC stated:
>
> "We, HTC Corporation declare that CDMA is the main network used in
> the US; the GSM network function has been disabled by firmware and is
> SIM locked for all U.S. operators for the following products.
>
> 1. Model Name RHOD400; FCC ID: NM8RHOD400
> 2. Model Name RHOD500; FCC ID: NM8RHOD500
>
> "http://wmpoweruser.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/fccrhodium-thumb.jpg"
>
> So I guess that settles the CDMA versus GSM argument once and for all (in
> reality CDMA has slightly more than 50% of the U.S. market, and a small
> but growing market share in Europe and Asia).
>
> For those wondering why HTC would file this declaration, it's because they
> now do not have to pass FCC EMI certifications for any of the GSM or
> W-CDMA bands for the product.

1) VZW started selling this phone on September 11th on-line for $199 (after
rebates). I got mine for $99 after using my New Every Two discount.

2) VZW will unlock the included SIM (it's a VZW "Global" phone) for anyone
who requests it.

Why all the "drama"?

-Frank

Frankster wrote:

> 2) VZW will unlock the included SIM (it's a VZW "Global" phone) for
> anyone who requests it.

There is nothing to unlock with the SIM, they need to unlock the handset
so other GSM SIMs in other continents, will work.

"SMS" <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote in message
news:4ad34f2f$0$1620$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
> Frankster wrote:
>
>> 2) VZW will unlock the included SIM (it's a VZW "Global" phone) for
>> anyone who requests it.
>
> There is nothing to unlock with the SIM, they need to unlock the handset
> so other GSM SIMs in other continents, will work.

It is my understanding that they will do that to.

-Frank

On 2009-10-12, Frankster <frank@SPAM2TRASH.com> wrote:
>
> "SMS" <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote in message
> news:4ace05eb$0$1593$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
>> "http://gizmodo.com/5356338/htc-touch-pro2-gets-its-first-reasonable-price-tag-courtesy-of-verizon"
>>
>> Interestingly enough, the phone _is_ capable of operating on the U.S.
>> GSM/W-CDMA bands used by AT&T (but not T-Mobiles 1700 MHz CDMA), but it is
>> locked to prevent its use on these bands.

Actually, I think the UMTS band coverage is 900/2100 MHz only.

>> For those wondering why HTC would file this declaration, it's because they
>> now do not have to pass FCC EMI certifications for any of the GSM or
>> W-CDMA bands for the product.
>
> 1) VZW started selling this phone on September 11th on-line for $199 (after
> rebates). I got mine for $99 after using my New Every Two discount.
>
> 2) VZW will unlock the included SIM (it's a VZW "Global" phone) for anyone
> who requests it.
>
> Why all the "drama"?

If you've unlocked your phone, could you try it with an AT&T or T-Mobile
SIM to see if that works? My reading is that the phone's firmware
prevents its use with US GSM operators, or their SIMs, in particular,
rather than on the US GSM bands (which are used in other countries) in
general. It would be interesting to know if that were true, though not
unexpected; Verizon always manages to do something annoying to the phones
they sell.

Dennis Ferguson

Dennis Ferguson wrote:

> If you've unlocked your phone, could you try it with an AT&T or T-Mobile
> SIM to see if that works? My reading is that the phone's firmware
> prevents its use with US GSM operators, or their SIMs, in particular,
> rather than on the US GSM bands (which are used in other countries) in
> general. It would be interesting to know if that were true, though not
> unexpected; Verizon always manages to do something annoying to the phones
> they sell.

Well it's hardly surprising that they'd disable US GSM bands. Presumably
they have no more roaming agreements with AT&T since the end of AMPS.
OTOH, if someone wanted to buy the handset at full price and use it on a
U.S. GSM carrier then it wouldn't be such a big deal for Verizon though
that handset is in very short supply at the moment.

On 2009-10-12, SMS <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:
> Dennis Ferguson wrote:
>
>> If you've unlocked your phone, could you try it with an AT&T or T-Mobile
>> SIM to see if that works? My reading is that the phone's firmware
>> prevents its use with US GSM operators, or their SIMs, in particular,
>> rather than on the US GSM bands (which are used in other countries) in
>> general. It would be interesting to know if that were true, though not
>> unexpected; Verizon always manages to do something annoying to the phones
>> they sell.
>
> Well it's hardly surprising that they'd disable US GSM bands. Presumably
> they have no more roaming agreements with AT&T since the end of AMPS.

But it isn't the US GSM bands (i.e. GSM 850/1900), the Verizon web page
says they're supported. What they seem to be disabling is use on US GSM
operators. I would be very surprised if I couldn't unlock an AT&T phone
and use it on T-Mobile's network with a T-Mobile SIM in it, or vice versa,
even though those guys don't seem to roam on each other much either (not
that the latter is really relevant), but when it is Verizon selling
the phone that's okay?

If you want a practical reason why that sucks, I have a small collection
of European prepaid SIMs which, to keep them alive, require you to make a
call every 6 months or so. If I'm in the US when the expiry approaches I
stick the SIM in my phone and make a 10 second call while roaming on
a US GSM operator. I should buy another phone for that? Or if you
spend a week's holiday the US Virgin Islands you'd really prefer to pay
Verizon's "international" roaming rates for Sprint service rather than just
inserting your T-Mobile prepaid SIM in the phone and using some of the
minutes you're hoarding?

> OTOH, if someone wanted to buy the handset at full price and use it on a
> U.S. GSM carrier then it wouldn't be such a big deal for Verizon though
> that handset is in very short supply at the moment.

If you buy a phone from Verizon it doesn't seem like it'll work with
a US GSM operator (How could it? They didn't do the FCC Part 15 testing!)
no matter what you pay. If you don't buy the phone from Verizon, on the
other hand, then if past behaviour is any guide you won't be able to
activate it for use with Verizon. And note that you always pay full
price for the phone, whether the expenditure is up-front or buried
in the service fees under the contract you sign.

I intensely dislike it when they sell you something but behave like
they still own it. All the US networks do this to some extent, but
Verizon is king.

Dennis Ferguson

Dennis Ferguson wrote:

> If you want a practical reason why that sucks, I have a small collection
> of European prepaid SIMs which, to keep them alive, require you to make a
> call every 6 months or so. If I'm in the US when the expiry approaches I
> stick the SIM in my phone and make a 10 second call while roaming on
> a US GSM operator. I should buy another phone for that?

I'm sure that you already have a phone for that.

Or if you
> spend a week's holiday the US Virgin Islands you'd really prefer to pay
> Verizon's "international" roaming rates for Sprint service rather than just
> inserting your T-Mobile prepaid SIM in the phone and using some of the
> minutes you're hoarding?
>

Good point.

> If you buy a phone from Verizon it doesn't seem like it'll work with
> a US GSM operator (How could it? They didn't do the FCC Part 15 testing!)
> no matter what you pay. If you don't buy the phone from Verizon, on the
> other hand, then if past behaviour is any guide you won't be able to
> activate it for use with Verizon. And note that you always pay full
> price for the phone, whether the expenditure is up-front or buried
> in the service fees under the contract you sign.

It'd be more accurate to state that "you always pay for a phone with the
cost buried in the monthly bills, whether you take a new phone or
not." There's no option to pay a lower monthly price and opt out of
subsidized handsets.

> I intensely dislike it when they sell you something but behave like
> they still own it. All the US networks do this to some extent, but
> Verizon is king.

No argument there.