HTC Passion to be Released On Black Friday?

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BoyGeniusReport apparently has gotten word that the HTC Passion will be launching on either Black Friday or mid-December (think you guys can be sure we were right about the name and carrier on this one). They said that it and the Curve2 will compete for the Black Friday launch date, whichever is ready first will release then and the other will be released mid-December.

Now, we have to just see if it will look anything like the original pictures and what it’ll have on the inside 🙂

You guys holding off on the Droid, now?

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  • wonderbread57

    One source is saying the Passion of the HTC is a GSM phone for T-Mob UK http://tinyurl.com/yavetrk. I also am not convinced that egadget’s source mentioned the passion by name but instead assumptions are being made connecting the dots to the passion of the htc even though we have really zero evidence that this thing (the thing unlockr posted picture sof) is coming to VZ.

    • Wonderbread57,

      I can promise that what I had a picture of is called the HTC Passion, and if Verizon announced that an HTC Passion is coming to them then I would think it safe to assume it is the same device, BUT of course it may go through changes from when we saw it originally to its release on Verizon, so we will see… who knows.

  • Pingback: HTC Dragon Release-Termin / Erscheinungsdatum - HTC Dragon - Android Forum()

  • Y314K

    Good to have a date range for this phone… Don’t see much “GameChanger” in it though (From the small amount of detail we have)… So I hope this HTC Passion is not the HTC Dragon… Or at least not the dominant flavor of it…

    I see Verizon making a big move on having so many (15) Smartphone’s, specifically (3-6) Android phones within two months… But I hope HTC is coming up with something more impressive these holidays… One of the reasons I hope this isn’t the HTC Dragon but a kissing cousin of it, is that Verizon’s prices are ridicules… We don’t all roam from city to city needing 3G access… I am willing to spurge on a good phone… I am not willing to spurge on a network that charges everybody like they are traveling business man…

    Hope more choices emerge from HTC… Or I might have to eat my words…lol

  • Biggles

    I don’t travel that much, but it would be nice to use smartphone capabilities when I do. What’s the use in having something like this if you can’t use it between cities or outside your own? AT&T pricing isn’t any different, and T-Mo and Sprint, while cheaper, basically don’t provide very good coverage where I’m at (Balt/DC metro area) let alone outside. In my experience, the savings is only justified if your phone happens to work where you live and you rarely ever leave your home. Impractical for the average working person. To each their own, I suppose. I think in the end what we need is a unified network standard so you can get your phone and pick your flavor of carrier. LTE can’t happen soon enough.

  • HaveGunWillTravel

    For those who say the Passion wont be on Verizon due to the lack of EVDO status indicator in the leak photo should look at a recent Verizon release the Blackberry Storm 2. 3G instead of EV now has been put in its place for the uninformed consumer who does not know EVDO is a 3G network. One hang up which id admit is the lack of location services symbol but could also be part of the overall redesign of status bar layout. Verizon is just going for more of a universal and easily understood design.

  • Y314K
  • Y314K
  • Y314K

    LOL.. BOOM!!! TMobile UK Typo…

    Bet the Android Market + 3.8″ screen are typo’s…lol

  • Y314K

    That was a fun 10 sec’s… Now back to your regular scheduled thread….

    Biggles: I am talking specifically to my location… The region/State/City/Home & Work Commute where I reside has great TMobile signal… Both TMobile & Verizon tied for top honors the last two JD Power & Associate round-up in my region… BillShrink even shows TMobile having the better coverage all over my city then Verizon… So in my case it doesn’t make sense to pay $20-$30 more a month over and over to have the same great signal… Sprint will probably be adding G4 access by the end or beginning of the year… The pictured phone does not thrill me enough to override my common sense of not paying over a thousand dollars more for the about the same service in a span of 2 years(In or out of contract)… Regardless of the phone…

  • I thought the HTC Predator was the Android 2.0 device for Verizon that looks like the HD2? Isn’t coming in January after the Passion?

  • Wolf

    so is this a HINT HINT it’s verizon, you might want to hold off on eris or is this… hint hint maybe verizon but still not very sure…?

    love the droids specs but fuck the interface… Sense is fucking amazing and rivals the iphone… with 2.0 on it, i’d be very happy. however this device is far better looking and if it has droid like specs and hero/eris like looks then i’m sold…

  • Anonimac

    Does anyone think the UI on the Passion could be the new one that surfaced a few days ago and filed for patent by HTC…Virtual Book UI or something like that?

  • dave

    someone made a comment on another post that they thought the other shoe to drop on this whole new verizon campaign was that they would announce an iphone for vz– which i chuckled at…. however, there is a report on gizmodo that the manufacturer that produced parts for the 3gs is already producing parts for the iphone 4… and it is way too early for that, unless the phone is going into production now. you couple that with the fact that sprint is already rolling out their 4g (so verizons lte cant be far behind), there are rumors that verizon has already been testing the iphone4, rumors that verizon ceo has been visiting apple, the fact that it appears verizon is going for the jugular in the smartphone world….. I guess I’m just starting to think it’s not that crazy after all… oh and the rumors that there are more devices to be released that we havent even heard of yet… and all of the articles out there of apple talking about giving up the att sweetheart deal in favor of selling more volume on verizon (appleinsider)… i even would be willing to speculate that the verizon ceo’s comments last week about the ball being in “apple’s court” sounded a bit like someone close to closing a deal… I’d even further be willing to speculate that the idont theme could just be a fun campaign–good natured jabbing– because they already have plans to release it– rather than a stoking the fire, throwing punches at a product you would really like to be doing business with… and all of this would just figure, because those of us who would have liked the iphone on verizon have finally found some phones to get excited about (Passion, Eris, Droid) and now here comes the iphone looming around the corner… who knows…

  • dave

    the fact that verizon left the droid alone and isnt requiring all its verizon branded crap to be on it also bodes well for a relationship with apple…. maybe verizon is realizing that they can do more volume too, if they stop crippling phones.. and to their credit it looks like that is what they are doing….

  • PatrickC

    Since the Blackberry Curve 2 was just announced to be out on november 20th, I wonder if this means HTC Passion will be out on Black Friday? Thoughts?

  • Meyer77

    I really hope this drops on black friday! At least for now give us a confirmed spec sheet. Sreen size, processor and android 2.0 are the deal breakers or me.

  • Anonimac

    So…still nothing? I was really hoping for some news about the Passion by now.

    I went to a Verizon store and messed with the Droid…not sure if i just had a lemon unit (i’m hoping that’s the case!) but i didn’t find it all that fast. The home menu navigation was sluggish as some have reported which i’m hoping is an OS glitch that will be fixed in next release. I also found the on screen keyboard just so-so which i’m hoping is not an indication of 2.0 keyboard performance overall. As much as it’s been debated, i noticed an obvious disadvantage to typing without multitouch on the Droid keyboard.

    So i’m hoping that the Passion fixes/remedies these few things:
    – Multitouch all around (keyboard, browser, etc…)
    – VERY snappy general menu browsing, app switching, etc…

    do we have any indication of the thickness of this phone? I’ve read before that people much more talented than I have taken a picture and extrapolated dimensions based on pixel count, ratios, etc… Anyone aware of someone who’s done this already or size measurements for this device?

  • dave

    BGR has more speculation on the passion, today.

    • Dave,

      Thanks! We got the info too, going to post it today and elaborate.

  • Wolf

    Gosh… I’d paid a pretty penny for this device. All I want is a sexy droid with sense UI. Hell I’d buy the ugly droid if it has Sense on it. Come on Verizon… So close….

  • Anonimac

    TheUnlockr,
    Please tell me that you’re going to post more than BGR did. I really don’t need a post to just say “yes, we agree with those other guys”…give us some more substance.

    • Anonimac,

      Ha, what? “I concur with BGR” doesn’t make you feel better about it? lol
      I’ve been working on a lot of other stuff for the site so havent had time to post really (You’ll see what Ive been working on soon 🙂
      I will post what BGR did and if I can get any other info in the meantime I definitely will add it.

  • Dakim

    specs say this will also have 256mb ram like the moto droid. i was wondering if this htc passion will be able to use the sd card for app storage like the droid?

    • Dakim,

      RAM has nothing to with App storage, but I would assume if the Droid can the Passion can.

  • stephensaurusrex
  • Anonimac

    Isn’t it amazing how one debunked story (*caugh BGR) can ruin the momentum and credibility of the rest of the related stories. Since several people have pointed out some obvious inconsistencies with that Sense UI clock photo (low resolution screen, two lines of text, lack of High/Low, weird font/color, etc…) the “tipster” is being doubted, validity of Passion and its release in the near term is being doubted, BGR reputation is getting tested, etc…

    TheUnlockr, if you have something to add to this topic, please do so NOW before i snap and hang myself from the nearest object that will support my body weight or break down and just go get the Droid…help me…save me…

  • StephenSaurusRex

    wow. pretty Emo Anonimac. lol. but i know how he feels.

    i drove myself crazy today looking for any scratch of news/rumors. and while the rumors varied wildly while being entertaining, theyre still just that: rumors.

    thanks unlockr dude for bringing us whatever news you have. while the whole culture is enough to drive a guy insane, i’m sure that you’re bringing us what you can when you can and that will just have to be good enough for all of us.

    BGR was fortunate to have a real scoop on the droid. For any number of reasons they jumped the gun on their last Dragon rumor and they lost some cred points. I’m sure this wont hurt them too much in the long run, but will mature them as journalists.

  • dave

    it blows waiting, but I do believe we’ll get the bombshell at any time… like everyone else has been saying (to which I usually take with a grain of salt), when I bought the Eris, I mentioned the “other” device to the salesperson and she knew what I was talking about, and like everyone else reported, she smiled and acknowledged it but didnt say anything… what i find interesting is that most verizon salespeople in-store anyways, usually dont know a thing about devices that are even in the store, let alone rumored to come out. I think its weird that suddenly some are either following the blogs now, or are now being coached/trained better or privy to upcoming releases. And by the way looks like I was right about the iphone for verizon (not that i care anymore, sorry apple!)…

  • Biggles

    I’m with Anonimac and I’m getting a little impatient. I’m not a huge fan of “playing the game” by getting a phone and returning to trade up within 30 days, but I’m considering doing so Monday of Thanksgiving week, knowing I’ll me covered until just about Xmas. I’m onboard with Sense, so the Eris is my fallback if the Passion ends up a no-show. I’m hoping for more leaked info by Thanksgiving, but I’m expecting a mid-Dec release (I’ll say Dec 15 as a guess) so as to not interfere with Droid sales. Fingers crossed.

  • Anonimac

    As was stated above, my post obviously had some intentional “emo” tones, but as the old saying goes, “there’s some truth to every joke”. While i’m not likely to hang myself over the Passion (or even rush out to get the Droid) I am definitely getting impatient and anxious to get some validation that this thing is coming. As long as there is some re-assurance that it’s on it’s way soon and heading to Verizon, i have no problem limping along with my 4 year old WM device. If, however, all Passion becomes synonymous with vaporware and I’ve continued to wait for it like a mindless groupie i’m going to be very upset that all the “Dddrrrooooooiiiiddd” sounds i hear from neighboring cubicles aren’t coming from my phone as well.

    Consider this another plea TheUnlockr…next step in my “emo” escalation is to put up one of those “This bunny dies unless I hear something authoritative about the Passion” sites…lets not let it come to that… 😉

  • StephenSaurusRex

    Im just saying, re-reading some of the comments, it almost sounds like TheUnlockr is at fault. I know thats not the intension, but I’m sure he/they appreciate a few more thanks every now and then.

    And jeers to BGR, DroidDog & CNET for reporting the latest misinformation (the fake screen shot that turned out to be an iphone lock screen).

    Man… I kinda feel like an inmate scratching another day onto the concrete wall. There really isnt anything to talk about. I guess we’re just brothers in waiting. (no soap dropping jokes 😛 )

    • Everyone,

      Look, we report what info we get. We do not make any claims that you should wait or that any of this is anything but rumors. The alternative is that we never posted anything we heard ever and you would never even know this phone existed. Obviously we got word of this phone WAY before HTC was ready so I’m sure there are plenty of details that can change. Don’t get mad at those of us reporting on these things, get mad at HTC for not officially announcing anything in the first place.
      If I had anymore information I would immediately post it, I promise. Im just as anxious to find out about this phone as you guys are but the fact of the matter is that NOONE will give us any official word on it so we are all just “an inmate scratching another day onto the concrete wall” till we get more info.
      Again, would it have been better if we never posted anything in the first place?

  • tk

    Thank you to TheUnlockr, BGR, Engadget and the like for doing what you do. Do I feel like this Passion waiting game is an excersise in futility? At times, yes I do. But in the end Im confident that I’ll be happier with my purchase, wether I wait it out for this phone or end up purchasing another in a few weeks time. Why? Becuase I know I will have had the time to do my research, gather all the information available and read user reviews for those devices already launched…. all thanks to these tech bloggers. So as much as I want more concrete information regarding this phone I am very interested in purchasing, special thanks to TheUnlockr for keeping us informed without leading us on… too much 😉

  • StephenSaurusRex

    @Unlockr, well, I said my thanks and I meant it and will continue to mean it. I would be a lot more upset at… well, the universe/fate/myself if I settled for a droid when what I really wanted was a high end HTC Android Phone (sense ui & fast processor).

    With that said, I was annoyed at BGR, if only b/c they didnt respond to comments that hinted against the legitimacy of the screen shot, posting. I’ve seen other bloggers come out and say something along the lines of “hey, remember that thing we posted? turns out that rumor was wrong” or “update: this rumor may be false/fake” or hell, even “they have been some who indicated that this rumor may be wrong, however, it still may be legitimate for the following reasons.” Instead, they BGR left it up as some kind of shinning scoop that fell on their lap.

    Bad on Phandroid, CNET, Droiddog for not bothering to scratch the surface. I mean, it’s right on the comments section? Who has time to read the comments section? The people who get paid for basic journalism, thats who. Hell, I dont even read every comment, but I search for keywords using “ctrl + f” and looking for links to stuff that inevitably support or contradict claims. By failing to conduct basic research they help spread misinformation and elevate jerks who offered the info in the first place. I can’t tell you how often I listen to podcasts where supposed tech journalist just don’t know their shit. period. many at cnet especially (though props to natalie del conte who seems to not only know most of her stuff, but also isn’t too afraid to say “i don’t know” unlike others who rant on no matter what). I digress.

    In case you’re wondering the tech sites who re-posted the article in question made no mention of evidence to the contrary. none.

    Good on the guys from Engadget, Gizmodo, TechCrunch, TheUnlockr and many others who often follow BGR’s lead on a solid story, but didn’t in this case for reasons that would be obvious to any journalist worth their weight in paper.

    Again, thanks TheUnlockr. Good shit!

  • dave

    brothers in waiting… right on. come on, i mean, this is fun. What are you going to do when you do get the passion (or whatever phone)? then what.

  • StephenSaurusRex

    um, dave, i dont mean to be a jerk, but besides getting/using apps and making calls, what kind of answer are you expecting?

  • dave

    um steve, i was kidding. i meant something to the effect of “the chase is more exciting than the catch.”

  • Dhill

    You know I was just watching Verizon’s new Island of Misfits commercial and they showed the Eris at the end. On the weather widget it showed line 1 of “North Pole, line 2 of “Mostly Cloudly”, and line 3 of ” with Snow”.

    Everyone was debunking the BGR picture because it showed a two line weather report plus location. Well verizon’s commercial shows that too.

  • Anonimac

    So has Passion news really dried up this much? If we assume that the BGR report was bogus or whatever, then it’s been a solid two weeks since any relevant news…is that what everyone else is seeing? or am i missing something?

  • Biggles

    Yeah, I’m dying here Anonimac. I can’t stand the info drought. I mean, some sort of leak would be nice just to wet the appetite. I still think Verizon will be hush hush until 30 days has passed on the Droid to curb trade-ups. My thinking right now is that Sense on top of Android 2.0 is the sticking point for getting this phone to market. That’s probably the hold up on the other HTC phones out there. I see them debuting Sense 2.0 on a new device (ie. the Passion) before pushing out the update to others.

  • Wolf

    To be honest I think we really might see the Passion after the 30 day point. Verizon did just increase the price for dropping a contract to round 300-ish bucks. Could be a sign that they don’t want droid-er’s to drop the droid for a Passion. They wants them green backs!

  • StephenSaurusRex

    @Wolf, I’m talking out of my butt here, but are you sure the $300 early termination fee includes in-house changing of phones? I thought the fee was for anyone trying to terminate their plan prematurely. My understanding is the only thing keeping a droid owner from going to the passion (assuming they want to) is the 30 day point. But again, I’m just talking out of my butt

    @Anonimac & @Biggles, yeah. I think what makes it so much more difficult than waiting for the droid (besides the droid having more leaks) is that there is still some debate as to whether or not this phone is going to big red or if its GSM only (thanks to the guys at PhoneDog, though i’m rapidly losing my confidence in them)… If it goes exclusively TMO, would I follow? Would you guys? I’ve grown comfortable w/ the idea being on Verizon.

    i know its somewhat premature, but I’ve decided that if I don’t get any more solid Passion news by xmas, i’m going to have to make definitive moves on getting some other Android phone (and lets face it, if its real & going to verizon, we def should have learned more by then).

  • Biggles

    @Rex, I’m going with Verizon. Phonedog ridiculously used a 3G indicator to prove its point, and then some other hearsay that it would be GSM. I’m sticking with unlockr and BGR with their sources. Besides, who else has an Android handset using capacitive menu/search/back buttons? Both Verizon phones have these, not to mention, the leaked unlockr pic shows those capacitive buttons look identical to the Droid’s. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. I will say, I’m concerned the Passion might get pushed out to 1Q 2010 due to delays. If all is still quiet come Dec 1, I’ll probably just jump on the Eris (definitely not leaving Verizon for TMo or anyone else) as I’m not waiting until next year. I hope HTC is speeding this phone to market because it needs to hit before Xmas to make sales. Otherwise, Verizon will drag their feet until early spring.

  • StephenSaurusRex

    @biggles,

    You’re right! Especially on the comments about the capacity buttons (which i’m a big fan of by the way). Yeah, when the phone dogs made that weakass predication based on the notification tray while the DROID clearly used the same tray, I thought “FAIL!” (Actually, my tone was a whole lot harsher… I’ve never been so defensive about a rumor).

    Do I believe that they have some source saying otherwise? Sure! Even TheUnlockr indicated that there was some GSM version of this phone in the works. However, I’m putting a lot of faith on those capacity buttons. Especially since HTC isn’t demonstrating a lot of aesthetic fidelity among Hero variants. Hell, I would bet that Verizon called dibs w/ HTC on that specific look since they’re trying to manufacture continuity across different handset brands running android.

    Thanks Biggles. You’ve renewed my faith. For me to wait until 2010, I just need solid news about the handset by xmas. I cant deal w/ that 528 processor on Eris (i always aim future proof). Hell, my girlfriend has a DROID, and i cant deal w/ the stutter I see on her device.

  • Y314K

    Heads up guyz…:

    Head’s up by the way… http://www.slashgear.com/htc-dragon-has-been-in-testing-at-google-for-weeks-release-imminent-1863724/

    Finally some new rumors/posts about HTC Dragon…

  • Y314K

    + http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/11/17/thegoogle-phone/

    comments on the HTC Dragon/Passion too… But now we have another phone to think about..lol

  • StephenSaurusRex

    DRAGON = PASSION = OFFICIAL GOOGLE PHONE??? It’s ALL over the blogs!

    TechCrunch:
    http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/11/17/thegoogle-phone/?ut
    m_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+T
    echcrunch+(TechCrunch)&utm_content=Google+Reader

    Gizmodo:
    http://gizmodo.com/5407245/the-true-google-phone-may-be-
    coming-soon?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_ca
    mpaign=Feed:+gizmodo/full+(Gizmodo)&utm_content=Google+R
    eader

    Endgadget:
    http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2009/11/18/google-branded-
    phone-coming-early-next-year/

    SlashGear:
    http://www.slashgear.com/htc-dragon-has-been-in-testing-
    at-google-for-weeks-release-imminent-1863724/

  • StephenSaurusRex

    WOW, did I misread that article or what? BIG fail on me! But if it came down to HTC Passion vs Google Phone, I will go w/ HTC, believe it or not. I’m mean, its like asking “Sense UI vs Stock Android?” Sense UI, easily wins in my book. The only thing that may EVER make me reconsider that are some hardcore exclusive apps, which Google isn’t likely to do, seeing as their giving Google Voice and Google Maps away on the iPhone.

  • Y314K

    Yeap.. I think it’s understandable… It’s like having clean water after a drought…lol

    Here is some more for u to choke on..lol

    http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/11/18/the-google-phone-may-be-data-only-voip-driven-device/

    I relly hope TMobie or Verizon get the Date plan going… ATT will be the worst of the 4 choices for a Data plan carrier…

    I was… Yeah, Good, Good.. “ATT” NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

  • dave

    cool, looks like I’ll be returning my Eris…. nice little hold-me-over. nice scoop Y3!

  • Y314K

    Now I got this huge inner debate going on in my head…

    HTC Sense UI is one of my non-negotiable features I want on next phone…

    But a full on Google Phone at a great hardware price + great monthly rate might change that……

    I think some one should be able to come out with a way to get Sense UI on the Google VoIP device one way or another… I am guessing Feb.-Mar. 2010 release date for this device… With a advertisment push starting in January ’10…

  • Y314K

    And it’s just getting better… From a guy that didn’t believe in the GPhone…lol

    http://phandroid.com/2009/11/19/google-phone-by-htc-early-2010/

    HTC is probably the maker…lol – HELL YEAH!!!!

    And I posted this over there will repost below…

  • Y314K

    _____________________________________________________

    From the articles that I’ve read… I never thought it would be release in Jan. ‘10 but that the advertising campaign would start late Jan. or Feb… I just hope Google doesn’t wait till the Google I/O in early May…

    I do really hope the manufacturer is HTC & that the phone will have both GSM & WiMax 4G ready @ launch… Since they already own part of the ClearWire WiMax soul…

    HTC is already testing a GSM/4G device over in Russia…

    http://www.wimaxian.com/2008/12/25/review-htc-max-4gtest-on-yota-wimax/

    If it all comes together… HTC Google VoIP GSM+WiMax 4G Android device… This will be a game changer…
    _____________________________________________________

    This seems like the device to wait an eternity for…lol

  • luis

    hello the unlockr i was just wondering if the htc passion can run on a tmobile chip

  • Y314K

    luis: I don’t think so.. The HTC Passion was first spotted on the Verizon release tree… So it’s a CDMA device… TMobile is a GSM/HSPA network… They are not compatible… And this might be the mix up happening with the PhoneDog clan saying it’s a GSM device & the UnLockr’s & BGR’s sources saying it’s a Verizon device… They are both talking about different devices…lol

    But the more rumors surface… The more I think the HTC Passion does not = HTC Dragon…. The HTC Passion will be the next evolution on HTC’s Android phone… But I am beginning to realize that HTC Dragon might be what HTC is working on for Google or part of that effort(It could be their way of selling HTC Sence to the GPhone customers)…

    Don’t get me wrong.. The HTC Passion will be a 1Ghz phone.. But nothing seems to be “Game Changer” about the HTC Passion but a natural evolution of HTC’s Android phones… But the HTC Dragon suppose to be a game changer… An HTC GPhone VoIP device with both GSM/WiMax 4G would be a “Game Changer”… Will Try to put my thoughts/links together later.. This is just conjecture from all I’ve been reading for the past month or two, since the HTC Dragon surface over at DroidDog…

    I am probalby completely wrong… But hey… This is half the fun… G.I. Joe…

  • dave

    i just wanted to see the comment box go to 57 (been on 56 too long!)… nothing brewing out there I guess?

  • Y314K

    TheUnlockr: With all of the HTC Passion/HTC Dragon/Google VoIP Device by HTC rumors from this past months & this past week …. We still seem to not have an answer to a one of the basic ?’s… So I am posting this to all with some source(s) that might be able to get an answer…

    1. Does the “Game Changer” HTC Dragon = Google VoIP Device by HTC … (I believe it does, or it wouldn’t be a “Game Changer”, enough Android SnapDragon phones as coming out already from other manufacturers but a Data Only Device will be a game changer…)

    2. Does the Verizon HTC Passion = “Game Changer” HTC Dragon = Google VoIP Device by HTC … (I am divided over this… On the one hand if Google was going to release a Data only device on the current market, Verizon would be the perfect network to release it on, there is a map for that… If what the device needs is data only… Then that map is a must for widespread data connectivity… On the other hand if Google is bypassing the carriers then the HTC Passion is probably just a HTC phone with Sense 2.0 & still needs the voice contract of it for phone calls… So the Passion just might be a 1Ghz HTC Hero with new Sense UI on it & not the HTC Dragon it self… + both seem to have different rumor time of releases… HTC Passion = Mid Dec. ’09 & Google VoIP Device first half of 2010)

    3. From the different blogger’s with sources on this phone(s)… Can the mix up on carriers or GSM/HSPA vs CDMA stories be related to there being two different devices that are being discuss as one…. This has been my guess for a while… or a device that can do both CDMA & GSM/HSPA on the same device… Even better but less likely..

    What dare say u & u’r sources…???

  • wolf

    To be honest I’ve almost lost all hope on having this device in my stocking this holiday season. I for one refuse to upgrade to a android device on big red until i see the HTC Passion come to pass. The Unlockr seems pretty “on par” with info on this device and he keeps pushing that it will show it’s beautiful self on big red so I will sit and wait until it does. Sorry Verizon, you won’t be seeing any of my money until I see this phone.

    Whoever supplied Unlockr with the picture of this device it is now time to drop your Grinch like attitude and leak what you know to all of us who’s in who-ville.

  • stephensaurusrex

    @Y314K: I’m not sure, but I think when you’re talking about “Game Changing” you’re referring to ReignZone’s comments that came w/ the first screen shots of the HTC Dragon?

    If so, I’m not sure, if you know that Google’s CEO, Eric Schmidt also made reference to a “Game Changing” phone in the press conference w/ Verizon.

    http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/06/verizon-plans-to-support-google-voice-will-launch-two-game-cha/

    If you havent, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that whatever the Game Changer is, there is a good chance that its going to Verizon.

    Now, anyone wonder if one of these Android phones would be Verizon’s first 4G phone? I know, I’m totally pulling this out of my ass. But since LTE is expected to Launch on Verizon in the 1st quarter, I think this would be a winning strategy. Below, there is an engadget article that says LTE devices on Verizon would probably (drop CDMA?) make calls through VoIP. Sound familiar (Google-Phone)?

    I don’t know… nice fantasy though, no?

    http://androidforums.com/htc-passion/19186-passion-dragon-news-today.html#post136241

    http://www.intomobile.com/2009/08/14/verizon-wireless-lights-up-4g-lte-test-network.html

    http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/08/14/verizon-tests-first-data-connections-on-lte-network-in-seattle-a/

  • Y314K

    I am even looking past LTE or WiMax… Although the first gen of GPhones might use them…

    (From one of my post at a different site…)

    Now… Has anybody heard anything new about this Google project…

    http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10158326-94.html

    Can this be Google’s Ace up it’s sleeve… I mean… Is this what is pushing Google back from releasing the gPhone in ‘09… And why wouldn’t the carriers allow for data only plans when they know if they don’t jump on board they will be left behind faster then Kirk Cameron.

    Keep an eye out for WhiteSpace Technology… I think this might be the canary in the gPhone goldmine. (No wonder Google said no to any more WiMax funding)

    So do the math folks…

    Google GPhone made by HTC(Killer Specs) + GoogleVoice/GoogleGizmo5 + GoogleADMob + GoogleWhiteSpaceTech… And they just keep adding more stuff…

    “Game Changer” more like NKED!!!

    (So imagine not just a free awesome phone w/Android Flan but free data too… Now that is a Game Changer)

  • Y314K

    StephenSaurusRex: Great links & info… Seems the HTC Pasison = HTC Dragon and its headed to Verizon…
    I do find it odd that HTC Passion is being carried around at Google while they are also working on a gPhone… I don’t think the HTC Passion is the gPhone…

    HTC Passion will come with Sense 2.0 + Eclair+/Android 2.1 ( http://androidandme.com/2009/11/news/android-2-1-spotted-in-the-wild/ ) while the HTC gPhone is more likely to come with Flan/Android 2.5 a little before any iPhone is release…

    As great as a Verizon HTC Passion might be… Getting in to a two year contract with Verizon doesn’t make sense if gPhone is on it’s way in the first half of 2010… Specially with Verizon higher monthly rates & ETF (I believe Verizon increased the price for the ETF partially cause of the gPhone)…

    I think this ? needs to answer before one can make a inform decision of

  • StephenSaurusRex

    As far as I’m concerned, 1 of the BGR predictions came true (good news it seems): http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/11/02/verizon-to-aim-for-the-smartphone-crown/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+TheBoyGeniusReport+(Boy+Genius+Report)&utm_content=Google+Reader

    The Blackberry “Curve2” had its silent launch on black friday. I’m still alarmed by just how quiet everything is on the Passion front. I’m wondering if we’re going to be hit with news a couple days after Dec 6th (30 days after the launch of the droid, too late for early adopters to return their phones).

    As for the gPhone, I simply can’t wait any longer. I’ve been waiting to purchase an Android Phone since before the G1 was announced. Hell, I have friends I’ve convinced to buy Android and I’m still w/out one. If the gPhone comes out and its truly worth it, I will buy it and shoot myself in the foot w/ verizon. A 2yr contract is a multi-thousand dollar deal, so it would still be worth it, especially if service w/ the gPhone is free. And if it isnt free, and the savings doesnt amount to the verizon’s ETF, then the savings w/ the gPhone isnt that immense. It helps to look at these things in relation to one another. And its important to remind yourself that you can end up waiting forever for that pie in the sky deal, lest you find yourself, over a year later, STILL waiting for that next perfect phone (like me… for the record, my litmus test was a touch-screen only phone w/ a processor faster than the G1’s… that’s it… that’s all I’ve been waiting for over a year).

  • Biggles

    First off, the “radio silence” with regards to the HTC Passion doesn’t surprise me one bit. It’s not unlike Verizon to purposely space out information or notification of impending release to its employees as to not undermine the sales of other devices, ie. the Droid. I mean, there may be nothing to leak because only the executives know for sure the plans to release the phone. That being said, someone has to have at least been privi to the phone’s specs, and for that, I think I might want to start a “fund” for whomever chooses to leak the important information. I’ll throw $20 in the pot. Who else is in? LOL

    My sticking point, the reason I don’t have an Eris in hand, is the desire for a larger screen and resolution. The larger processor would be nice, too. Based on a posting in HowardForums where someone’s sales rep was quoted as calling it the “HTC HD w/ Android”, I strongly feel we’ll be seeing this handset with a 3.8″ screen. Pure conjecture, I know, but that’s a nice target size, better than 3.2″.

    The gphone doesn’t interest me a whole lot, aside from the possible killer specs. I mean, voip via cellular network, even LTE, doesn’t interest me a whole lot. Here’s why… I have voip at home with FIOS, and it’s been great. But in my research, voip has been hit or miss for alot of people regardless of bandwidth. Latency and jitter are more important as long as you have the 128kbps connection both ways, and I just don’t know how well a cellular network will function in this aspect. Cellular voip just doesn’t seem like it’ll fly over the standard data channels. Sure, Verizon or others can make voip work if they dedicate and prioritize it for their voice communications, but you and I won’t have this perk to ensure quality. Anyway, I’ll be sticking with a handset with dedicated voice.

    I’m getting impatient, but I think I can hold out until a week from Monday at which point I might give up and order the Eris. I mean, anything between now and then to suggest the phone is coming will tide me over, even if it’s an FCC approval. I have my fingers crossed. I hope we’re all happy by the Christmas holiday with our HTC whatever-other-than-the-Passion-they-might-decide-to-call-it in hand!

  • tk

    Are you kidding, I’ll throw in 20 now and 30 later when they confirm the details! Ive given myself until the 1st of January to make a decision. My current phone just has to go and even though Im not totally sold on the MOTOdroid, that’ll be my new phone if we remain in the dark regarding this Passion fruit.

  • StephenSaurusRex

    @Biggles, btwn now and next monday? Does this do the trick? http://androidandme.com/2009/11/phones/htc-passion-coming-to-verizon-this-christmas/

  • Y314K

    StephenSaurusRex:

    This has for the most part already been debunk on one u’r earlier links…

    http://androidforums.com/htc-passion/19186-passion-dragon-news-today-2.html#post138634

    Doesn’t seem to be real… But here is hoping..lol

  • StephenSaurusRex

    Never mind, its a fake. Discussion Board on the case.

  • Biggles

    @Rex, yeah that site has been around since the week before Thanksgiving. There was discussion about it on the Phandroid message board. Definitely fake.

  • Anonimac

    Alright, it’s been a solid 16 days since TheUnlockr commented on this topic…should we read into that at all?

  • tk

    Lets hope not but then again Im beginning to lose all hope and passion. Pardon the pun, it was irresistible.

  • dave

    it does seem awfully quiet. I’m leaning towards the theory that they are maintaining radio silence until the 30 day return period of the droid is over. I also think the next year is going to be full of exciting stuff– the google phone, the verizon iphone… etc.

  • Anonimac

    From another site…not sure it’s really the type of news we’re hoping for on this topic but at least it makes the little number read “73” vs. “72”:

    “Deeply embedded in their latest ROM, HTC has a lot of codenames for existing and upcoming phones:

    Bahamas, Bravo, DesireC, Dragon, Dream, Espresso, Halo, HeroCT, HeroC, Hero,

    Huangshan, Incredible, Legend, Liberty, Memphis, Paradise, PassionC, Passion,

    Sapphire, Supersonic.

    Thanks to maxisma for uncovering this.
    “

  • StephenSaurusRex

    @Anonimac… just when I was about to post “99 bottle of beer on the wall, 99 bottles of beer…”

    Mind if we got a link?

  • Anonimac

    I don’t have the link anymore…i posted the direct text because the site was jacked up and the single post was way at the bottom. Either way i don’t think this is earth shattering news and I, for one, have gone from restless to kinda over it. The recent lack of any news has completely taken the wind out of my sails for getting a new phone and i look at my 4 year old WM phone and have to admit that it doesn’t do much, but what it does it does well and i think i’ve simply stopped looking at phones.

  • StephenSaurusRex

    @Anonimac, yeah, uh, no, i definitely cant keep my WinMo phone. I may very well hurt someone when in a fit of rage I chuck it like a 90 mph fast ball. Its an HTC Touch/Rogue, and I love HTC, but these phone is like an 80 yr old lady working in a walmart… sad…

    I honestly need to get over it though, at least I until I haplessly run into an ad for the phone a couple days around lunch time.

  • dave

    no i agree with anonimac to a degree– can only spend so much time chasing phones and have to backburner it after a while… and just deal with what you have if none of the available options are floating your boat.

  • Anonimac

    StephenSaurusRex,
    Don’t get me wrong, if the damned thing does finally come out i’ll definitely get it, or whatever super-duper-awesome phone Verizon makes available. All i’m saying is that my previous opium-laced mindless blind groupie status towards this phone is over with and i’m fine waiting with my existing 4 year old WM phone. Basically, i’m cooled off enough about getting a new phone that i’m not going to waste my NE2 discount JUST for the sake of getting a new phone…i’ll just wait and see.

  • Anonimac

    All kinds of rumors now all of a sudden, with the latest being that the Passion is heading to T-Mobile first in early January.

    Seems that this is something to keep an eye on as a poster promises to reveal entire 2010 line up with pics, brochures, specs, etc…enjoy!

    http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=573534&page=4

  • Y314K

    Damn, Anonimac.. U beat me to it..lol

    Can’t wait for later today…

    I say we move this chat to the “The Google Phone” post on the front page.. To make sure others can access the info…

    http://theunlockr.com/2009/11/30/the-google-phone/

    See you there…