The U.S Cellular has announced the availability of two Android powered handsets LG Genesis (releasing on June 9th for $199) and the HTC Merge. As promised earlier, the U.S. cellular has launched its first Android-powered Global roaming capable phone, the HTC Merge, priced at $149.99 on a two year contract after $100 mail-in-rbate. The QWERTY-sliding HTC Merge handset is the CDMA edition of the HTC Desire Z.
HTC Merge comes with Android 2.2 Froyo OS flavored with HTC Sense UI experience, powered by 800MHz processor, equipped with a full physical QWERTY keyboard, sporting a 3.8-inch touch display.
Other features are including a 5 megapixel camera with 720p HD video capture capability, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA functionality, mobile hot-spot capability, micro-SD card slot for memory expansion up to 32GB, powered by 1400mAh Li-Ion battery, Android Market and a full host of Google and Alltel services. HTC Merge handset is having both the CDMA and GSM network connectivity capabilities. The Merge comes shipping with 8GB micro-SD card inserted.
There were rumors that the Merge is already headed for Verizon Wireless, but it looks like U.S. Cellular will become the second carrier to sell this CDMA version of HTC Desire Z officially after Alltel Wireless.
Check: HTC Merge Full Specifications.
Buy
Interested folks can purchase the HTC Merge at the U.S. Cellular Online Stores for $149.99 after a $100 mail-in-rabate. The takers should be committed to sign the two-year contract with the carrier and are required to subscribe for the data data plan.
[Source: U.S. Cellular]