T-Mobile Europe announce the MDA Vario IV (HTC Raphael)

By chrissyboy, posted Wednesday, May. 28th, 2008
Reader Comments: 6

Mobile Phone Helpdesk have an exclusive as today T-Mobile Europe announced three new MDA devices in München, Germany. T-Mobile will soon come to the market with the MDA Compact IV, the MDA Vario IV and the T-Mobile Ameo 16 gigabyte. The Compact IV is basically the HTC Diamond while the Ameo is the updated version which we have already seen.

The MDA Vario IV is the most interesting device as we haven't seen much on this one but it looks to be the rumoured HTC Raphael which is very similar to the HTC Diamond with the added slide out QWERTY keyboard.

The device is said to have 640 x 480 VGA screen, HSDPA up to 7.2Mbits/s, WiFi and GPS just like its keyboardless brother the Diamond. Where this device differs apart from the keyboard is the addition of a Micro SD card slot, but there's no mention of any built in storage.

via GSM Helpdesk

The information I got was then I called and they said only voice for now data will come out eventually but at this time they had no date. Sigh.. but yes if the Vario IV comes to the US on a quad-band support with everything else left alone and not dumbed down like taking away the second camera I will stay with T-Mobile and be happy they finally decided to caught up with AT&T and start offering good power users devices instead of kid phones like the NEW Sidekick... yippy.... or some other gimmick phone like a razr with tattoos!

Posted by fugita, Thursday, May. 29th, 2008

GSMArena.com posted a realy good English review:

http://www.gsmarena.com/t_mobile_mda_compact_iv_mda_vario_iv-review-252.php

Some initial thoughts: I like the looks of MDA Compact IV over the HTC Diamond, ergonomic round corners and no gimmicky faceted cover. Don't understand the reduction in ROM, though it's not unheard of for carrier branded handsets to have slightly lesser specs than the equivalent HTC branded model. Camera was as expected of tiny aperture designs: best for bright outdoor still-life's. N95 owners have nothing to fear from HTC in that department.

Posted by bluewater, Thursday, May. 29th, 2008

It is confirmed TMobile's 3G service will be voice and data. I wish TMo USA would come out with these phones. I am an overall satisfied TMo customer, but it's depressing that they are so behind the other carriers with phones, data, and coverage. But in the end, I can't beat the price.

Posted by brat1475, Wednesday, May. 28th, 2008

Where did you hear that T-Mo USA is only releasing 3G for voice, Fugita? I heard that this was only for testing purposes and that data would be out by end of Summer.

I do understand that the article is regarding the European offering, the idea I was trying to convey is that it will take T-Mo USA picking up the Vario IV with the release of 3G (obviously for voice and data) in order to win me back.

Posted by Physboy, Wednesday, May. 28th, 2008

3G from T-Mobile is only voice not data... and the announcement says T-Mobile Europe, not T-Mobile USA so unless something major happens for T-Mobile USA I am going to AT&T still!

Posted by fugita, Wednesday, May. 28th, 2008

Now were talkin'. They release an unlocked Diamond with the Vario IV configuration and I am on board for the next two years. Of course T-Mo could win back my loyalty by releasing this device with their 3G offering this year too. ;)

Dave, you should be all over this, a Diamond with a keyboard and expandable memory!!! Tell ya what, between this and the RedFly or HP mini, with HSDPA service I will be saying goodbye to by laptop forever!!

Posted by Physboy, Wednesday, May. 28th, 2008

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