| HTC spins WiMAX phone? |
Oct. 10, 2008
 HTC, which earlier this week nixed U.S. release of its high-end Touch HD Windows Mobile phone, could have another trick under its sleeve. It is reportedly readying the "T8290," a WiMAX-enabled phone (left) that would be compatible with Sprint's new "4G" XOHM network.
The device, which would be the first WiMAX Windows Mobile device we're aware of, is unconfirmed by HTC itself. However, convincing-looking photographs and a few specifications were leaked today by the Nedge2K.com website. Could the T8290 be the mysterious "dual-mode" (3G NOW and 4G XOHM) device hinted at by Sprint in its WiMAX launch event in Baltimore this week?
The T8290, resembling a more squared-off Touch HD, is said by Nedge2K's "anonymous tipster" to include a 3.8-inch 800 x 480 display, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0, GSM, and WiMAX. Bearing the brand of the Russian carrier Yota, the phone is pictured (below) connecting to the Internet at nearly 14MBbps.
 
These leaked images depict the HTC T8290 (left) connecting to the Internet at nearly 14MBps (right)
Source: Nedge2K.com
(Click either to enlarge)
Yota claims to be Russia's first provider of Mobile WiMAX technology, touting speeds of up to 10MBps that are available even from a vehicle moving at sixty miles per hour. The company says it has installed 150 Samsung-supplied base stations in Moscow, 80 in St. Petersburg, and will have deployed 1000 base stations in the two cities by the end of the year.
The development follows Sprint's formal rollout earlier this week of its XOHM WiMAX service. XOHM is initially available in Baltimore, with near-term deployments in Washington, D.C. and Chicago. For details, including further background on the WiMAX technology, see our earlier coverage, here.
Sprint has partnered with HTC on multiple occasions. Just last month, it announced U.S. versions of the manufacturer's recent Touch Diamond and Touch Pro, which include HTC's TouchFlo 3D user interface, 2.8-inch displays with VGA resolution, 3.2 megapixel cameras, GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, and EV-DO Rev. A connectivity.
The U.S. will apparently not receive the even-newer Touch HD, which steps up to a 3.8-inch touchscreen with 800 x 480 resolution, and a five megapixel camera. "By the time we could bring the Touch HD to the States, it would be old news," HTC said earlier this week.
Could a Sprint version of the WiMAX-equipped T8290 be what HTC has in mind instead? At this point, that's pure speculation -- but such a product would not only fill a gap in HTC's product line, but also become the perfect flagship device for promoting the XOHM service. iPhone killer, indeed.
Further information
To see the posting about the HTC T8290, with further pictures, visit the Nedge2K.com website, here. For more details on Yota's WIMAX service, see the company's website, here.
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