Android update: mobile operator Sprint confirms HTC Hero launch date

Finally confirming rumours that have been circulating since July, US operator Sprint has confirmed it will be launching the HTC Hero during October. The popular Android handset is the second big operator announcement for the OS today, coupled with the UK release of the Pulse through T-Mobile.

The phone:

The Hero is the third Android device from Taiwanese manufacturer HTC, and it’s a genuinely lovely little smartphone. Its specs are old news by this stage, but here’s a quick run-through: 3.2-inch touchscreen, Wi-Fi and high-speed 3G connectivity, GPS navigation, up to 32GB microSD storage, mobile browsing, visual voicemail and access to the Android Market application store - as well as integrated access to multiple on-line email and messaging services, and a large suit of Google tools.

Sprint differences:

There are a couple of difference between the Sprint Hero and the European release. For one, the “chin” at the bottom of the phone has been removed… for the better, I think. Also, it has a UI from HTC called “Scenes”, which is a set of seven customisable homescreens that you can set up to be used at different times of day. So, for example, your work “scene” could contain business apps and links to your work mail. Your “home” scene might games and entertainment apps, or a link to TV listings.

It comes with a few extra services from the operator as well, including Sprint Navigation and Sprint TV.

Price?

The handset itself will set you back $150 - if you avail of the $50 instant rebate, and a further mail-in rebate of $100. So presuming something goes wrong with the mail-in rebate, it’ll cost you $250. As for the price plan, Sprint make a lot of noise about how much better it is than AT&T. The example it gives is the Simply Everything plan, which provides unlimited calling, texting and data for $99.99 per month. Which isn’t all that bad, if you’re a heavy user.

Sprint is crazy

I had intended to leave it at that, but I had to include the following but from the Sprint press materials. Sprint has got to be one of the most aggressive networks I know of when it comes to throwing poop at the opposition. Check out this comparison chart they prepared:

The selling point here seems to be that Sprints Hero is better than at least ONE of its competitors on each point. It doesn’t shy from comparing itself unfavourably to one other device as long as it gets to lord it over another. You have to love that kind of bullishness!