Verizon launches HTC Touch Pro 2 for $200

Verizon Wireless has joined the HTC Touch Pro 2 party. Tomorrow, the carrier will become the third U.S. operator to launch the smartphone. However, unlike Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile USA, Verizon is selling the phone for $199.99 with a two-year contract and after a $100 mail-in rebate. Both Sprint and T-Mobile are shopping the HTC hardware for $349.99.

Three of the four Tier 1 carriers--Sprint, Verizon and AT&T Mobility (as the HTC Fuze)--launched the original Touch Pro, first introduced in the fall last year.

The Touch Pro 2 has a 3.6-inch WVGA TouchFLO 3D display, a tilt-capable screen, a full keyboard and a 3.2-megapixel camera. The smartphone runs a customized version of Windows Mobile 6.1; customers will eventually be able to upgrade to Windows Mobile 6.5 when it becomes available.

In other Verizon handset news, the carrier said that it would launch the Nokia 7705 Twist, a square-shaped messaging phone that twists open to reveal a full Qwerty keypad. The Twist will be sold for $99.99 with a two-year contract and after a $50 mail-in rebate, beginning online Sept. 13 and in stores Sept. 21.

Nokia has long suffered from a weak position in the U.S. market relative to its global standing. That the company scored a position at Verizon Wireless--the nation's largest operator--lends credence to statements Nokia executives have made about boosting the company's position in the U.S. market.

For more:
- see this HTC release
- see this Nokia release

Related Articles:
Sprint launching HTC Touch Pro 2 for $350
T-Mobile launching HTC Touch Pro 2 Aug. 12
HTC Touch Pro 2 likely headed to T-Mobile first
HTC: Touch Pro 2 coming to North America