FCC Approves Verizon's HTC Touch Pro2

The FCC approved a version of the HTC Touch Pro2 today that's allegedly on its way to Verizon Wireless. This will be one of this carrier's few CDMA/GSM world phones, allowing it be used outside of the U.S.

The HTC device that was just approved isn't labeled with a carrier's name, but its code-name was given: Rhodium. According to a roadmap of models that leaked out of HTC early this year, this version of the Touch Pro2 is headed for Verizon.  The versions for other carriers -- Sprint, T-Mobile, and AT&T -- have different code-names.

There have been rumors that T-Mobile and Sprint will release this model in the relatively near future, but this is the first indication that Verizon customers might be getting a shat at this device soon too.

It's a World Phone
The second generation of Touch Pro will have a laundry list  of high-end features, including a slide-and-tilt WVGA touchscreen, QWERTY keyboard, and an array of wireless options.

If all that wasn't enough, the version that received FCC approval today will have support for both CDMA and GSM networks. and therefore will be usable outside of the United States. In the U.S., the it will connects to to Verizon's CDMA network, while in other parts of the world, where a different cellular-wireless standard is used, it will be able to connect to GSM networks.

The earlier roadmap of products shows that Sprint will also offer a CDMA/GSM combo model.

An Overview of the HTC Touch Pro2
The Touch Pro2 will be a "slider," a smartphone with a landscape-oriented sliding QWERTY keyboard. It will also have a 3.6 inch, WVGA (800 by 480 pixel) touchscreen. It will mark the return of the slide-and-tilt screen that was a hallmark of an earlier smartphone from HTC, the AT&T Tilt.

This HTC model will debut with Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1, but make the jump to Windows Mobile 6.5 when this new version is available.

The Touch Pro2 will be built around a 528 MHz processor from Qualcomm, 288 MB of RAM, and a microSD card slot.

In addition to mobile broadband, it will have Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a 3.2 megapixel auto-focus camera, a GPS receiver, and a 1500 mAh battery.

Here, There, and Everywhere
No U.S. carrier has announced that it will offer this Windows phone, but several unconfirmed reports say its on its way to AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint.

The latter carrier could release it as early as next month, and it's reportedly on its way to T-Mobile USA in July.

Source: FCC via Engadget