Help Will the unlocked HTC Desire HD work in India?

[andry]

All right. Here is a good news and a bad news.

Good news is that I spoke to a HTC India official & I got official information about HD7 and DHD. This means below information (aka bad news) is authentic. I called up HTC India hotline (1800-1033-566) retail services and spoke to them for about 15 minutes.

I was told HD7 has been launched officially in India and the HD7 being sold in the Indian market is genuine. They said I should be able to get a HD7 anywhere between 25k-28k Rs. I forgot asking why they hadn't published HD7 on their website and in media.

Upon querying on DHD, the lady (Shweta - HTC customer representative) admitted that DHD's official launch was on 10th December but however due to price issues, it could not be launched on 10th December. She said that expected launch of DHD is in the last week of December 2010. (stop searching for bad news, pls )

Well, I clearly explained her that because of absence of official information from HTC regarding the launch dates of DHD, HTC is losing business to N8/GalaxyS/Nexus S, and DHD fans are also losing faith in HTC India. She said, because of the ongoing price issues of DHD, they find it difficult to publish on website about the official launch date of DHD (she said - what if something goes wrong and they are unable to launch on the annouced official date). She also told me the expected price of DHD could be between 30k-32k Rs.

I wanted to ask her if I can speak to any higher authority of HTC India in retail section but realised I spoke to her about 15 minutes, I didn't do that.

I would say, pick your phone and talk to HTC people on the toll-free number (1800-1033-566). Try to dig out more information about DHD launch and make them realise that this is high time they at least hang up a notice on their website 'DHD coming soon'. Also, please ask if they can take pre-order for DHD and directly deliver to us & at what price they will deliver us (I know this is highly unlikely but trying "never" harms)!!

She expressed her and HTC's "inability" to control the situation. May be I will give them few more calls today & tomorrow.

PS - Would like to see some informatiom from you folks which will encourage me to post more information from 2 or 3 calls which I will make today & tomorrow

Thanks for the details.I just called up HTC india. The lady told same stuff that it should get released by end of this year and price will be in range of 30-32k . I have given her my details and asked her to inform me as soon as it's decalred officially...so right now i guess it will be WnW for me

 

[saj_2001ind]

Thanks for the details.I just called up HTC india. The lady told same stuff that it should get released by end of this year and price will be in range of 30-32k . I have given her my details and asked her to inform me as soon as it's decalred officially...so right now i guess it will be WnW for me

what reason did they tell you about this delayed launch ?

 

[SHAIK]

So you guys are going to wait?. 15 days left..lol..too long....

 

[andry]

what reason did they tell you about this delayed launch ?

she told me its a price dispute between HTC and distributors which is causing the delay.

 

[Btrivedi]

launch on Last week of dec, too late..hmmmmmmmm
I wrote to HTC on friday and got the reply now..same reply..please check HTC india website and if its there it is launched and if its not there it is not laucnhed..lol

And also I see price dropped to 37K on ebay from 43K.

Any update?.

Argghh !! Irresponsible reply. You could have challenged them that then how come HD 7 is not being displayed on their website though it is officially available in market.

PS - Are we all speaking to the same lady (Shweta) ? Some one please speak to any gentlemen if possible.

 

[Btrivedi]

I called the htc number, they told me last week of dec ... but reason they told me is stock is getting delayed ... why different reasons ???

How can it be stock issues ? They must first launch the phone and then see if there are going to be any stock issues (there are so many factors which clearly does not indicates that DHD will be sold like a hot cake in India - official yet unannounced price of DHD, availability of other smartphones, Nexus S has just crashed in the market - I think I can live without FM .. )

 

[Btrivedi]

How can it be stock issues ? They must first launch the phone and then see if there are going to be any stock issues (there are so mnay factors - official unannounced price of DHD, availability of other smartphones, Nexus S has just crashed in the market - I think I can live without FM .. )

Did you know this ? -

The new Google Maps 5.0 allows users to view buildings in 3D, to get traffic reports and a latitude feature, which allows them to find the exact location of their friends. Other features include vector images instead of tiles and multi touch gestures.

But the real advantage is that users can cache the data for viewing it in offline mode.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXZT_YKh-20&feature=player_embedded

http://news.oneindia.in/2010/12/13/tech-google-maps-5-nexus-s-price-specs-review.html

 

[SHAIK]

All they are saying end of dec and they are not 100% sure. We need to speak to higher level person...if they do not launch by end of dec, then..lol....ebay also promised to deliver Nexus S by 1st Jan 2011 and also LG star launch in jan 2011.....

what guys?. Are you going to wait?. Atleast they should launch in this week.

 

[saj_2001ind]

I believe guys like me who has a galaxy s now, will wait, bcoz SGS is suppose to be the best phone till date in india, and being an owner I know its short commings, I am never going to go for a samsung mobile now...

motorola is also crap

for now I feel HTC is the best bet for android and I will wait for DHD to be in india specially for warranty bcoz after paying so much of money and if something goes wrong......

 

[Teufel]

what guys?. Are you going to wait?. Atleast they should launch in this week.

I will wait till the last week of December if there is no update on the status from HTC side then I will consider ordering the Nexus S from Ebay.in

I don't think I have any other option left, I have waited till now for the DHD, I will wait some more for it, but there is a limit to which I can wait and that expires on 1st Jan 2011 ...

 

[Btrivedi]

I still dont understand the hassle over the price, is it the dealers who want a bigger cut whereas HTC wants to introduce the phone in the market at a lower price or is it something else altogether?

I think it's the HTC who wants the bigger share of the profit in selling over smartphones (HD7 and DHD). For example - HD7 is available in the US for 22k off contract and TMobile unlocks it for free but HTC India wanted the HD7 price to be around 32k (now, HD7 is available for 28k-30k).

Now, Samsung Galaxy S 3.7" (27k) and Nexus S 4.0" (530 USD + 40 USD shipping = 570 USD = 25.6k) have very competitive prices, so DHD shouldn't be more than 30k ideally.

PS - Anyways N8, Desire, Milestone2 are already there.

 

[saj_2001ind]

N8, Desire, Milestone2 comes no way near DHD, specialy N8, its totally a crap

but its true the price of DHD should not be more than 30K MRP and we should get it by 29K

what about the DZ, will it be similar priced as desire and the original desire will be gone after its launched

 

[iamteja]

I think it's the HTC who wants the bigger share of the profit in selling over smartphones (HD7 and DHD). For example - HD7 is available in the US for 22k off contract and TMobile unlocks it for free but HTC India wanted the HD7 price to be around 32k (now, HD7 is available for 28k-30k).

Now, Samsung Galaxy S 3.7" (27k) and Nexus S 4.0" (530 USD + 40 USD shipping = 570 USD = 25.6k) have very competitive prices, so DHD shouldn't be more than 30k ideally.

PS - Anyways N8, Desire, Milestone2 are already there.

This is not to discourage anyone here but the Desire is about 27-28k. And on sites like Expansys the prices difference between Desire and Desire HD is about 100 GBP.

So, maybe expecting it to be less than 30k might be plain wishful thinking. And based on their prev. pricing principles I don't think they worry much about competitive pricing, at least in India.

Nonetheless, as the stock is here but the price is being disputed one can only hope for the best

 

[iamteja]

So this brings up the question: How bad can not having warranty get?

I have tasted this with Laptops but never with phones. I haven't had any HTC phones before so how much risk am I taking by not having warranty (i.e. through Expansys)?

Unless my luck is very bad do I need to spend more than 6-7k on the phone for repairs/ damages??

 

[saj_2001ind]

grey market price is 35K now my retailer told me, and this is now as its not launched...seems the price will be around 30-32K once its launched

but the million dollar question is when will it be launched ???

anyone else called htc or got any clue again, plss share...

 

[saj_2001ind]

iG Update : HTC Desire HD and HD7|iGyaan.in

check this out, I feel this is believable....

 

[Btrivedi]

N8, Desire, Milestone2 comes no way near DHD, specialy N8, its totally a crap

Yes, and in 2-3 months when dual-core processors will be launched, you will call DHD a super-crap phone. Isn't it - fair ?

For a N8 (costing 23k INR) user, DHD may be a crap and ridiculously expensive phone. N8 folks might say DHD has got battery issues, inferior camera, only 1.5 GB internal memory, no HDMI output etc.

IMO, end of the day - it's a customer's choice whether they like some phone for a respective price or not !! It probably won't be fair to call some phone a crap.

PS - I have played with all the 3 phones N8/GalaxyS/Milestone for about ~2 hours each before deciding on DHD but would not agree that phones other than DHD are crap

 

[saj_2001ind]

N8 is crap for me not bcoz of hardware but its outdated symbian, now dont tell me you like symbian better than android in any ways android fans here gonna laugh at you if thats the case

its not only the hardware which makes the smartphone better but its software which plays a more vital part..look at iphone, it always had low processor power etc but user experience is far better than any better hardware nokia phones

so yeah when dual core comes things will be more faster more resolution but still user experience will be imp..if nokia makes N8888 with dual core and crap symbian...can u guess any android fan here will buy it

 

[Btrivedi]

This is not to discourage anyone here but the Desire is about 27-28k. And on sites like Expansys the prices difference between Desire and Desire HD is about 100 GBP.

So, maybe expecting it to be less than 30k might be plain wishful thinking. And based on their prev. pricing principles I don't think they worry much about competitive pricing, at least in India.

Nonetheless, as the stock is here but the price is being disputed one can only hope for the best

Partially agree with you on 'actual price' of phone. But as new series of phones HD7/DesireZ/DHD are being launched, price of Desire should go down as it's no more HTC's frontline ambassador phone - isn't it ? So, 28k for Desire won't hold good anymore.

In complete agreement with you regarding competitive pricing. HTC and Apple both have ignored the India story. If HTC were to care a penny about HTC customers, they would be expected to keep in mind the Nexus S/Galaxy S prices of 25k & 27.5k, why DHD should cost more than 30k ? Am okay to shell out 32k for DHD.

 

[Btrivedi]

iG Update : HTC Desire HD and HD7|iGyaan.in

check this out, I feel this is believable....

Thanks for the link but nothing new.

Infact, on 10th Dec, I sent out a not-so-nice email to iGyaan & they replied back saying that the DHD launch delay is because of the price issue between retailers and HTC. Yesterday only, I replied back to iGyaan with link of this thread & discussed about what abinavcs said about DHD stock (his adventure) & my discussion with HTC support staff. They replied back with thanks today for sharing the new information with them & guess what - we find they have updated their blog. Bharat Nagpal and Shivani of iGyaan replied back with couple of emails to me.

iGyaan - you fail to impress us.

PS - However, iGyaan news of stocks of DHD, 10th dec launch and HD7 news was quite okay.

 

[Btrivedi]

N8 is crap for me not bcoz of hardware but its outdated symbian, now dont tell me you like symbian better than android in any ways android fans here gonna laugh at you if thats the case

its not only the hardware which makes the smartphone better but its software which plays a more vital part..look at iphone, it always had low processor power etc but user experience is far better than any better hardware nokia phones

so yeah when dual core comes things will be more faster more resolution but still user experience will be imp..if nokia makes N8888 with dual core and crap symbian...can u guess any android fan here will buy it

All right - you win.

PS - I failed to make my point. Anyways ..

HTC please launch the phone at good price ..

 

[saj_2001ind]

well..friend we are not here to win or loose , just to share our experiences

after reading today's igyaan post I somehow feel they are correct that HTC maybe planning to drop their phone prices from 1st jan 2011 and thus the whole distributer htc clash..but why is that not applicable with HD7 price ? its seelling at 28-29k now

one thing is for sure that DHD stocks are already at distributers and they should plan to make it available to customers soon...few more days of anxious waiting, I believe it will be worth

 

[SHAIK]

deleted..sorry

 

[SHAIK]

Thanks for the link but nothing new.

Infact, on 10th Dec, I sent out a not-so-nice email to iGyaan & they replied back saying that the DHD launch delay is because of the price issue between retailers and HTC. Yesterday only, I replied back to iGyaan with link of this thread & discussed about what abinavcs said about DHD stock (his adventure) & my discussion with HTC support staff. They replied back with thanks today for sharing the new information with them & guess what - we find they have updated their blog. Bharat Nagpal and Shivani of iGyaan replied back with couple of emails to me.

lol..what we have discussed here, they have posted there. Still no pakka release date...any chances of its launch this week?. They are saying coming days..when?.

 

[Btrivedi]

Our DHD's will be pre-loaded with major Indian city maps, correct ? And btw, what's up with Vodafone ? Is it just that Vodafone will give good data-plans to DHD Vodafone customers ?

@Shaik - Launch should happen soon. Wait is worth as many other friends here say. I believe - patience is worth now.