Mobile Origins

The device was originally named as the HTC Bravo, a flagship handset in a series of Android mobile phones that was originally released in a roadmap. The device was supported by the HTC Legend. While both smart phones reached the production phase, the Bravo took a slight adjustment in details: a name change which was made public when the smart phone first appeared at the Mobile World Congress. Aside from the change in the name, the phone’s hardware features remained the same. The Desire name is now a standard for HTC, with the HTC Desire Z and HTC Desire HD on their way.

Hardware Specifications

In terms of hardware, the HTC Desire is one of the most powerful handsets to have ever been released. In fact, the device matches up to the specs of Google’s Nexus One. With a 3.7 inch AMOLED capacitive touch screen display, 5 mega pixel camera and a Qualcomm Snapdragon QSD8250 processor, the handset practically set the new basis for what can be considered as a high end device.

Running at 1GHz, the HTC Desire is fast, stable and powerful enough to handle every single existing Android app and feature. In fact, unless the user is running multiple applications, one should expect to have no slowdowns at all when it comes to this handset.

It also runs Android version 2.2 Froyo, which is a significant upgrade over the previous versions of the OS. Thanks to better resource handling, the user interface and web browsing on Froyo is faster and smoother than even before.

Even though HTC has pushed the update to take place well before the end of this month, it just seems unrealistic, all things considered. All three mobile phone network operators have given word that upgrades to their units will come at a much later date. On the other hand, HTC Hero owners with unlocked units should be able to get their upgrade without a problem, much to the envy of network subscribers.

As it is with any major update, mobile phone operators would need some lead time to conduct tests to ensure network stability. At the very least this is to nip possible problems in the bud if ever unforeseen issues arise.

The most vocal of them all, Three has stated that their update is set to be released around mid to late July. Customers should not get their hopes up too high though because the patch is more likely to go live later as opposed to an early date.

On the other hand, Orange has released a statement that their upgrade will get released in the “very near future”. If this means an end of the month release date, the network operator may be the first of the three to make the switch.

Lastly, T-Mobile UK asked their G2 (HTC Hero variant for the mobile network operator) subscribers to stay tuned for further announcements. No hint of a date was given but hopefully subscribers will get some news before the month ends.

Considering the fact that Google has already released version 2.2. of the ‘Droid, this looks to be a big disappointment for paid subscribers of the three networks.