Carphone Warhouse appeared to have let the cat out of the bag after it put details of a mystery Qwerty phone called the HTC Desire Z -- as well as the heavily leaked HTC Desire HD -- on its Mobiles.co.uk website. That was until it admitted to our sister site ZDNet UK that it had culled the specs from online rumours.
Carphone's online-only retail operation featured both Android phones on its 'coming soon' page as well as lengthy descriptions of what they will be packing in terms of specifications. The listings have since been removed.
The HTC Desire Z is the major eyebrow-raiser for us -- if it's real, it'll be the first HTC Android device for ages to carry a slide-out Qwerty keyboard. The site suggests it will run Android 2.1 at launch rather than the latest Android 2.2, which just sounds wrong, to be honest. The Z was previously spotted on Vodafone Germany's systems by Slashgear.
The specs of the HTC Desire HD (formerly known as Ace) have already been leaked around the Web and accidently given away by Amazon, but are worth repeating here.
It will run with the Android 2.2 OS on a 4.3-inch touchscreen, carry a 1GHz Snapdragon processor and boast an 8-megapixel camera with 720p HD video capture. Both Desires will have the usual 3G, HSPDA, Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth we expect of high-end phones these days.
The purported introduction of the HTC Desire Z is a surprising move, as HTC moved away from Qwerty keyboards on its Android phones after its first effort, the T-Mobile G1. HTC has a long history of building Windows Mobile phones, however, and these usually sported keyboards.
The HTC Desire Z will go up against the BlackBerry Torch, which also has a touchscreen, slide-out Qwerty keyboard combination. The Z may have the edge with its Android software -- the Torch has had a lukewarm reception in the US.
HTC hasn't confirmed either device officially, with an unveiling expected next month. Both will be available unlocked at launch, Mobile.co.uk says.
Has HTC flogged enough versions of the HTC Desire? Is the Qwerty keyboard a good move? Are you surprised that retail sites list products based on leaks and speculation? Bash away in the comments.
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Comments 13
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Anonymous 20 August, 2010 14:13
QWERTY Keyboards ROCK!
+1 for keyboards. Try IRC chatting on a touchscreen. It just isn't as smooth
Anonymous 20 August, 2010 14:42
"it'll be the first HTC Android device to carry a slide-out Qwerty keyboard"
Anyone remember the phone that started it all? G1 - wasn't that a HTC device?
billfred 20 August, 2010 14:49
yes, yes it was.
Nick Hide 20 August, 2010 14:52
Yeah, we mentioned the G1 lower down. I've clarified that sentence.
Anonymous 20 August, 2010 15:21
I was a long time Windows Mobile QWERTY user, but defected to the iPhone 3GS, when Microsoft just didn't respond.
I now see Android as reminiscent of Windows Mobile in it's pomp (I mean that in a good way!), but have to say I really enjoy using the iOS platform. The one thing that would tempt me away from the iPhone would be a great QWERTY phone running Android.
Could this be that phone?
Anonymous 20 August, 2010 19:11
it dosent matter if its got a qwerty key board or just a normal touchscreen even a monkey can use it to send txt
a bad workmen always blames is tools?
Anonymous 20 August, 2010 23:28
@anonymous - you're comment would be more valid if it wasn't full of typos.
Or did you get your monkey to type it?
Anonymous 21 August, 2010 02:31
A good workman has the right tools. And slidey keyboard does seem like a better tool IMHO
Anonymous 21 August, 2010 21:09
rofl @ second monkey comment!
Anonymous 26 August, 2010 11:05
The Desire Z will be the one I'll have to get, as the Samsung Galaxy S Pro (the Epic in the US) seems not to be released in the UK. The five row keyboard of the Epic looks amazing, but I'll have to make do with the Desire Z... Which doesn't look bad, just not AS good.
Basil 26 August, 2010 17:08
Excited. Totally stoked for the HD - can't wait to get my hands on it.
Wonder what screens they'll be using?
Anonymous 7 September, 2010 10:33
I have just cancelled my request for the iphpne 4 (upgrade) As I am waiting to see the Desire HD(Ace).
I hope it will be worth it????
Anonymous 7 September, 2010 11:49
Gimme Gimme Gimme! I just ordered the Desire but have cancelled it and will wait until the Desire Z is released (upgrading from a very long in the tooth TyTn2 but loved the qwerty experience).