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We were just talking about how the HTC Thunderbolt is the new HTC Merge, and now they’ve finally officilally announced it after weeks and months of leaks, speculation, missed dates, rumors of cancellation, and more.
What’s more is that we’re learning it’s a CDMA world phone, and that Verizon won’t be the only carrier to offer it. (We don’t even know if they’re still set to offer it – HTC’s only mentioned that “multiple North American operators” will be getting it, and that could totally refer to our Canadian brethren up north.)It’s a 3.8 inch device with Android 2.2, HTC Sense, a 5 megapixel camera that can record HD video, and has a hardware keyboard. Read on for full press details.
The HTC Merge™ Smartphone Brings Android™ and HTC Sense™ to HTC’s First CDMA Android World Phone
BELLEVUE, Wash., Feb. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — HTC Corp., a global designer of smartphones, today announced that the new HTC Merge smartphone will be made available through multiple North American carriers beginning in spring 2011. The HTC Merge smartphone combines a full QWERTY slide-out keyboard with the power of Android 2.2, the HTC Sense experience, a large 3.8-inch touch-screen display and a 5 megapixel camera to create a complete mobile experience for those looking for a truly complete smartphone. The HTC Merge is also HTC’s first Android-based CDMA world phone.
“HTC prides itself on creating unique solutions that meet the needs of different customers, and with features like a full keyboard and global 3G roaming, the HTC Merge smartphone is the perfect example of this commitment,” said Jason Mackenzie, president, HTC Americas. “Combining the functionality of Android with the HTC Sense experience, the HTC Merge is the perfect device for those customers who are looking for a reliable mobile experience with the features and functionality of a smartphone, whether it’s at home or travelling around the world.”
Customers will appreciate seamless integration with Exchange ActiveSync, enjoy quick and easy access to Flickr® for sharing and viewing pictures, and find new ways to customize their experience with the Android Market™ with more than 100,000 applications. With a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, customers will be able to keep in touch with friends and family no matter where they are, as well as stay in the loop with Flickr, Facebook® and Twitter™ updates through HTC FriendStream™.
In addition, the HTC Merge smartphone has a 5 megapixel camera with auto-focus and flash that captures outstanding images, while 3G connectivity makes sharing those special moments with friends and family quick and easy. The HTC Merge smartphone also comes with integrated GPS, Wi-Fi connectivity and even the ability to capture high-definition 720p video.
Availability
HTC Merge is slated to be available from multiple North American operators beginning in spring 2011.
its just an evo shift on verizon, get over it.
World Phone? DOES THAT MEAN GSM SIM CARD SLOT?!?!?!
more midrange bullshit. WTF HTC!!?!?!?
Why does Verizon always gets the better HTC ones? I’m still looking for one for AT&T so I can upgrade too
Actually its a G2 copy and the shift is G2 copy for sprint…
Mid-range or not, I think this is a nice device. If it indeed comes to Verizon, it’ll be a good thing – Big Red’s needed a handset that actually has a decent keyboard. A lot of people like Sense, so this should do quite nicely, IMO.
@Chris: Not really. G2 doesn’t have the full Sense experience. They are copies of the Desire Z.
@Paul T: This isn’t a midrange device, it is high end. It has a second generation Snapdragon processor, just running at a clockspeed of 800MHz. When overclocked, it can run stably at speeds of 1.4GHz-1.9GHz (depending on the device itself).
Did I miss something or what is the available app memory? I looked at the EVO Shift a couple weeks ago and it was only 370 Mb. In todays market, that’s poor at best. If this is similar, they missed the boat on what people want in a phone, apps to SD can only get you so far. There’s no reason why new phones shouldn’t have at least a gig or better.
@Ace Curry… hence the “or not” part of my comment :) I agree with you… I think it’s a nice device. If my contract were close to ending, I’d definitely consider this phone.
My next phone need to be dual core and got lte.
^^^^^^^^ Does it also need to come standard with a grammar application? ^^^^^^^^
Gonna be really hard to type on that two row keyboard haha
Lol. Im prretty sure theres more to it then that. =P
I don’t care about any devices anymore without a release date
Its the same as the G2 and the Evolution Shift…not much to get excited about unless you’re a Verizon customer.
Exactly Zi
HTC: Dual Core, LTE, Keyboard, 4″ Plus AMOLED or SuperLCD
Soon!
Thanks.
lol as i currently own a G2, gag lol
it really does just look like a g2
but good for whomever lands this. I definitely do not see Sprint or Tmobile getting it. They have the shift and g2
So i can see it going to US cellular, Alltell, Verizon, Metro, and Cellular south
If cellular south snags it i may jump on board..good new phones come few and far between with them so i definitely wont be complaining if they get it
It comes with a full “zxcv” keyboard. Neato
First, Sprint already has this and its the Evo Shift 4G. If it’s a CDMA world phone it’s likely gonna come to Verizon, Alltel, Cellular South, Metro and maybe US Cellular. For the GSM users, just get the SIM subsidy unlocked and enjoy your EDGE! :)
My next phone will have no less than a 2nd Gen 1ghz processor. And honestly I can’t get behind the hardware keyboard … but that’s just me.
They should have released it earlier, but it’s still a nice device, and the keyboard appears to be one of the best I’ve seen. If it’s the latest version of Sense, even better. I have GB on my Nexus One, so, not thinking I want this.
Maybe ST (Straight Talk) will carry this (But since I heard that AM might be ending their agreement with Verizon over coverage, as well as how Verizon would react in general, probably not).
I can see sprint pulling a droid 2/droid 2 global
with the evo shift and merge
that is if it were to somehow launch with 4g capabilities
Some of you must be retarded….no it doesnt have the hard specs to match the thunderbolt or the bionic but it has something both of those and 90% of other android phones dont…..A PHYSICAL KEYBOARD!!!! That is the entire hype of this phone cause up until now, has there been another htc device with a keyboard avail from verizon??? NO! Only outdated droid1 and stupid locked bootloader droid2 and both are moto not htc….and i dont see the lg ally or moto devour winning any popularity contests…so just cause you dont care about the qwerty…doesnt mean that thousands of other also dont…cause we do and we will only buy qwerty devices…
“Big deal its a shift on vzw” yes thats a big deal, last time i checked i couldnt walk into a vzw store and buy a shift under a vzw contract…dummy
2 row keyboard? How can you read if you cant count? Its a 4 row and for a 4 row keyboard it is extremely easy to type on the G2 or the shift so i would imagine it would be on the merge as well. I do wish it was a 5 row kb but begger cant be choosers and us qwerty blasters will be more then happy to have the 4 row, still hundred times easier to get used to hitting fn key to get a # then getting used to typing on a virtual kb. Besides how many up to date 5 row qwerty android phones are there right now? 1……the epic 4G and if u dont have sprint your outta gas on that, and would still pick the 3.8″ smaller display and 4 row kb merge over the epic anyday cause HTC drops stank loads on sambung… merge will get cm7 support in no time.
Quit saying this is the same as a shift…they are similar but not the same…shift has jack squat for rom storage and 3.6″ display
What crawled up Blahshed’s ass and died….
Its obvious that some of those comments were meant to be nothing but humorous…
Been waiting on a physical QWERTY and sub 4″ display from HTC for Verizon.
Hopefully Big Red hasn’t gimped it too much now that they have the iP 4 and LTE Androids to focus on.
Lmao at the full “zxcv” comment.
This might just be the phone me if HTC Sense doesn’t screw up Android too much like MotoBlur seems to, e.g. ActiveSync needs to work.
If it’s like the G2, I wonder about the quality of the slider. I recall G2 owners saying it was too loose. Don’t know if that was a long term problem for them or not.