Well, I’m glad I did not wait for the HTC Desire to come to Singapore!
The twin of the highly-successful Google Nexus One is hitting shops here only at the end of this month, killing earlier rumours that it was going on shelves this weekend.
I say I’m glad I didn’t wait because I would have enjoyed my Google Nexus One (which is made by HTC as well, for those who don’t know) for almost half a year before the HTC Desire comes to town.
Still, for those who wait, there are rewards for your patience. Topmost is the fact that the Desire will be sold through telecom operators, which means discounts for signing up a subscription plan.
Usually up to S$400, depending on the plan you sign up for, these discounts mean that the S$898 Desire could cost a lot less than the US$529 (S$733) that Google asks for the Nexus One. And Google is going to stop selling the Android flag bearer online, as news today confirms.
As for the Desire, the improvements are more than skin deep. The key changes I really like are:
- Hard buttons (prevents you from accidentally accessing one of the soft-touch buttons below the screen)
- Optical tracking, instead of a hard trackball – it just feels smoother
- HTC Sense – the UI is great for keeping tabs on all your conversations with friends (including over Facebook, SMS, or e-mail) on one screen.
On the flipside, one plus the Nexus One has over the HTC Desire is that users might get their OS updates faster. With the Google phone, the update is pushed over the air as it is released, while HTC users have to wait for firmware updates from HTC (unless you download and update your own firmware from third party sources).
That’s a big plus, because the upcoming Android 2.2 (Froyo) update is going to be a massive one. Not only does it do Flash (take that, Apple), and native USB tethering, it is said to be four times faster on the Snapdragon processor used by both the Nexus One and Desire.
I understand the HTC Desire will be sold through all three telcos here in Singapore, so there will not be a mad rush to one operator, like with the Motorola Milestone. Consequently, there’d likely be fewer units on the grey market.
Save money with the HTC newest phones! 🙂
I have left 4 pieces of HTC $100 voucher for use with purchase of a HTC Desire, HTC Desire HD or HTC Desire Z with ANY of the 3 telcos, coupled with a 2-year contract. Voucher will be valid till 19 Dec 10.
Contact me at michellesarahleong@gmail.com if you’re interested. Letting vouchers go @ only $45 each. So act fast!
Letting voucher(s) go to anyone who can collect earliest.
Outlets:
M1
Bugis Junction
Change Alley
Changi Airport Terminal 3
Cold Storage Causeway Point
Compass Point
IMM Building
Paragon
Parkway Parade
Sembawang Shopping Centre
Sun Plaza
Tampines Mall
West Mall
SingTel
singtelshop.com with FREE Delivery – Select HTC Voucher when purchasing
StarHub
IMM
One Raffles Place (OUB Centre)
Plaza Singapura
Sembawang MRT Station
Tampines Mall
Vivocity
*Terms and Conditions
1. This is for the purchase of HTC Desire, HTC Desire HD or HTC Desire Z with a 2-year handset contract only.
2. Limited to one voucher per purchase. If value of the voucher is not fully utilised, no refund will be made one the remaining value and cannot be used to offset other purchases.
3. This voucher is not exchangeable for cash.
4. This voucher is not to be used in conjunction with any other promotions.
5. This voucher is redeemable at participating outlets only, respective telcos terms and conditions apply.
6. This voucher is valid from 4 December 2010 to 19 December 2010.
I’ve got my HTC Desire recently, I used to using the Nokia X5800. Moving from Symbian to the Android platform is day and night difference. That shows how far behind Nokia is in this game!
I’m very happy getting the Desire machine but the battery power is something a pain, since I’m using the machine all the time for E-Mail and surfing the Net. Single Battery can’t last more then 6 hrs. I believe this is something that HTC need to improve on the battery consumption!
I just can’t wait to get upgraded to the new 2.2 FroYo hopefully in the next few weeks!
btw, I share some tricks on http://www.htcdesireforum.com hope it helps.
I presume S$788 is import set?
End of the month is official set right?
Says who it is only arriving at of the month. Go check out Sim Lim. Couple weeks back I saw a shop selling the Desire at S$788. And there are several more shops selling it now.
Dont anyone get your hopes high until Htc gets their supply of parts and production to keep up with demand as widely reported.