AT&T HTC Pure and Tilt 2 with WinMo 6.5 arrive

With Windows Mobile 6.5 set to make its official debut tomorrow, Tuesday October 6th, AT&T have outed a couple of new smartphones based on the Microsoft OS.  They're not unfamiliar devices, however; the AT&T HTC Pure is the carrier's re-shelled HTC Touch Diamond2, while the AT&T HTC Tilt 2 is their HTC Touch Pro2.  As well as the updated OS, each handset has 3G, WiFi and Bluetooth.

The Pure has a 3.2-inch WVGA resistive touchscreen, a 5-megapixel camera and a new plastic casing rather than the Diamond2's metal highlights.  As for the Tilt 2, that has a slide-and-tilt 3.6-inch WVGA resistive touchscreen, hiding a full QWERTY keyboard.  Meanwhile there's also a 3.2-megapixel autofocus camera and HTC's excellent full-duplex speakerphone.

According to AT&T, the Pure will go on sale today, priced at $149.99 with a new contract and following a $50 rebate.  Meanwhile the Tilt2 will take a little longer to arrive – though AT&T say only a matter of weeks – priced at $299.99 after a $50 rebate and assuming a new contract.

Press Release:

AT&T and HTC Debut HTC Tilt 2 and HTC Pure Windows Phones

Pairing the Best of Both Worlds, the HTC Tilt™ 2 and the HTC PURE™ Unify Personal Communication in Two Very Different Form Factors

Dallas, Texas, Bellevue, Washington, October 5, 2009

AT&T* and HTC Corporation, a global designer of mobile phones, today announced the upcoming availability of the HTC Tilt™ 2 and the HTC PURE™ with Windows® Mobile 6.5. The HTC PURE delivers a touch screen experience in an alluring, compact form factor, and the HTC Tilt 2 features the convenience of a tilting touch screen combined with the practicality of a slide out full QWERTY keyboard.

Powered by the nation's fastest 3G network and the Windows phone platform, the HTC Tilt 2 and HTC PURE deliver an enhanced TouchFLO® 3D interface on a large vibrant touch screen that makes navigation intuitive and rich while enabling smooth access to desktop like web browsing. Both devices embody HTC's approach to put people at the center of the communications experience by providing full access to voice, text, or email in a single contact view, regardless of whether voice, text or email was used. This view can be accessed from the contact card or in the in-call screen during a phone conversation, ensuring the latest conversations are always at hand.

"As one of the first carriers to support Windows Mobile 6.5 in the U.S. and the largest distributor of Windows phones worldwide, AT&T has a long history of leadership in smartphones and Windows Mobile," said Michael Woodward, vice president, Mobile Phone Portfolio, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. "Twice as many smartphone users choose AT&T over any other carrier and the HTC Tilt 2 and HTC PURE will lead our Windows phone lineup into 2010."

AT&T will support Windows Marketplace for Mobile in 2009 for access to a variety of applications on new AT&T devices, including the HTC PURE and HTC Tilt 2. Additionally, AT&T customers' purchases from Windows Marketplace can be added to their monthly statements. After Microsoft delivers Windows Marketplace later this year for other versions of Windows Mobile, AT&T will make it available to customers using those versions.

Windows Mobile 6.5 received several upgrades that enhance ease-of-use, such as a touch-friendly user interface and improved browser with Flash support. Content and applications are just a fingertip away on the redesigned Start Menu and Internet Explorer Mobile will support the rich experiences that many Web pages offer for desktop computers.

"AT&T and HTC have a long history of innovation with Windows phones," said Andy Lees, senior vice president of Microsoft's Mobile Communications Business. "AT&T, by bringing out the both the HTC Pure with its touch slate, and the HTC Tilt 2 with its keyboard, gives people the ability to choose a Windows phone that matches their preference."

HTC Tilt 2

Designed for the business professional, the HTC Tilt 2 is designed with distinct style and strength while delivering the most powerful productivity experience available on a mobile phone. The HTC Tilt 2 features a high-resolution 3.6-inch widescreen WVGA display which can be easily tilted for an expanded viewing area and a large QWERTY keyboard, which is optimized for heavy email use. A quality speakerphone experience is enabled by dual speakers and dual microphones with advanced noise cancellation, and HTC's Straight Talk™ which allows for simplified conference calling and activation of the speakerphone by simply turning over the device. The HTC Tilt 2 also features a 3.2 megapixel camera.

HTC PURE

Leveraging HTC's TouchFLO 3D experience, the all touch screen HTC PURE offers an advanced touch experience that is optimized for one-hand use, which further evolves the compact smartphone design. Incorporating a large, brilliant 3.2-inch WVGA touch screen, the HTC PURE is crafted to fit perfectly into the hand and accentuates one's sense of style. With a crisp advanced five megapixel auto-focus camera with video capture, expandable memory, gravity sensor and an ambient light sensor, the HTC PURE brings many of the most sophisticated features to a broad consumer audience looking for the professional benefits of a smartphone, without sacrificing size, looks or functionality.

"The HTC Tilt 2 and HTC PURE are not only powerhouse devices, they also provide a natural simplicity in the way we communicate with the people in our lives whether through voice, text or email," said Jason Mackenzie, vice president of HTC America. "Our desire is to put people at the center of every mobile experience, and we are pleased to work with AT&T, who shares this common vision."

Pricing and Availability

The HTC PURE is available at AT&T retail stores nationwide and online at www.wireless.att.com for $149.99. The HTC Tilt 2, will be available in the following weeks for $299.99. (For the HTC PURE, pay $199.99 and receive $50 mail-in-rebate, for the HTC Tilt 2, pay $349.99 and receive a $50 mail-in-rebate. Two-year agreement on a minimum $69.99 plan required.)

Small business customers also can subscribe to AT&T's new, industry-first BusinessTalk voice plans, which start at $60 a month for five users and 700 Anytime Minutes and can be expanded for $9.99 a line to accommodate up to 40 users and 20,000 Anytime Minutes. AT&T Music, AT&T Navigator, Video Share, Push-To-Talk and MobiTV all require separate monthly subscriptions.

For the complete array of AT&T offerings, visit www.att.com

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

1 Coverage not available in all areas. Other terms and conditions apply.

2 AT&T Promotion Card: Card valid for 120 days wherever major credit cards accepted. May be used to pay wireless bill. Not redeemable for cash and cannot be used at ATMs or gas pumps. Some restrictions and other charges apply. See terms at store or at att.com/wirelessrebate. Limited-time offer. Other conditions & restrictions apply. See contract, rate plan brochure and rebate form at store for details. Subscriber must live & have a mailing address within AT&T's owned wireless network coverage area. Up to $36 activation fee applies. Equipment price & avail may vary by market and may not be available from independent retailers. Messaging or Data package may be cancelled anytime. Early Termination Fee: None if cancelled in the first 30 days, but a restocking fee up to $35 may apply; thereafter up to $175. Some agents impose additional fees. Allow 60 days for fulfillment of AT&T Promotion Card. You must be customer for 30 consecutive days to receive Promotion Card. Offer expires November 21, 2009.