I dont know.

73's

W1MAK out.........

__________________
VZW, It's 2008! Time to embrace technology, not suppress it. - oops too late I've moved on over to the iPhone w/ AT$T!

Mark, you must be happy about this: Verizon to open cell network to all phones - Nov. 27, 2007

Before long, we shouldn't have to wait for Verizon to "approve" the phones and we should be able to get phones like the 5800 straight from the manufacturer months (or years) before Verizon releases them on their network. You have to give Verizon credit for this move. I'm assuming it was proactive as the FCC chair seems bent on improving consumer rights with the cell phone companies.

That is a picture of the S710, but Verizon is actually getting the S720. That's the CDMA version.

This one:
UTStarcom

Looks like they will be doing a business launch first. Anyone know how long it usually takes Verizon to sell a device to us nonbusiness customers after the business customers get it?

No I Beleive it's the s720 but in a different shell than qwest.
Look at bell wireless in canada
HTC 5800
Now Look at Qwest
https://shop.qwest.com/en/US/wireless/service
Same Phone different Cases. I Beleive verizon is gettin the s720 in the same case that bell has

__________________
Phone First, PDA Second.
xh3dx.gamer@gmail.com
Robert J. Barrett
Ham Callsign: kd7jur
Gamer: xh3dx

http://miniprofile.xfire.com/bg/sh/type/3/xh3dx.png

On the phone with a PDA/Smartphone specialist from Verizon. I just went over with her the specs of the SMT5800/HTCLibra/PLS5800. The phone was NOT manufactured with the capabilities to support wi-fi. I just read the owner manual from UT Startcom and there is no mention of wi-fi. Unless there is something out there I do not know, I think this should put to rest any wi-fi disputes concerning the phone.

I was advised that phonescoop.com was the best website to refer to when finding information regarding PDA/Smartphones. The user manual for the 5800 can be found at:
UTStarcom

*Edit*
Ok, I am very confused. Look at these websites:
HTC S730 - a stylish and compact smartphone
HTC
UTStarcom
Verizon Wireless SMT5800

None of these phones are the same...and that means that Verizons SMT5800 is neither an HTC710/730 nor is it a PLS5800. Anyone out there have a clue as to what phone this is? I am waiting to hear back from the PDA specialists I spoke with earlier. I will update when I hear back from her.

*Edit*
Ok, I still havent spoken with Verizon yet, but I think I have it figured out. I downloaded the user manual from the UTStarcom website, and it is exactly the same as the one from Bellwireless's website. However the 5800 from Bellwireless, which is named the HTC5800 and listed on HTC's website, not only looks different than the PLS5800 on UTStarcom's website, but it is also made by UTStarcom! It would seem that both UTStarcom and HTC are getting their phones from the same place and making minor changes to the looks of the phone. Well I am sure this has further confused some because I still dont fully understand this...

Either way I think it is pretty clear that the phone was not manufactured to have wi-fi so lets not blame the wireless carriers.

*Last Edit* (I hope)
I am almost 100% the phone Verizon will launch is the HTC5800. The HTC5800 is neither a HTCS710/720/730, HTC Libra, nor PLS5800. The HTC5800 was manufactured without wi-fi and its specs can be viewed here:
HTC: Products: HTC 5800 (Bell) Features & Specs
This should end all confusion concerning the phone.

Verizon's SMT5800 is HTC's S720. There are two external casings available from HTC for carriers for the S720, one that has the more "rounded" appearance of the original S710 Vox and one that has the more "rectangular" appearance. The more rounded version is offered by Bell, the more rectangular is offered by Qwest.

The HTC S710 is the original GSM version of the S720. As is HTC's typical pattern when designing a CDMA variant of an existing GSM phone, the CDMA version is upgraded in some manner, and then the upgrades are incorporated, and often expanded upon in a newer version of the GSM original, hence the S710, S720 and S730 (they do the exact same thing with the PPC/XV6800 which technilogically slots in between the original Titan/8525 and the newer Kaiser/Tilt/8925). Here, HTC's S710 was upgraded in Processor to become the S720 (which is Verizon's SMT5800), while the S730 has the upgraded Processor of the S730.

You are absolutely correct in this instance in that HTC's S720 was never built with WiFi, whereas the original S710 and the newly available S730 do have WiFi. There is no possible software fix or hack to get WiFi on the S720/SMT5800. There is/will be a hardware fix in that MicroSD WiFi cards will work on it that are currently being released.

The UTStarcom / HTC issue has already been addressed, but basically, UTStarcom is a distributor that sells to carriers, like Verizon. It is essentially a middleman between Verizon and HTC. UTStarcom does not manufacture the phones. HTC's initial niche was as a designer of phones for carriers that would carry the carriers own label. In the past few years, as HTC has become more desirous of branding, it has been more and more willing to deal directly with carriers.

Now, if someone would only please get some idea of release date from Verizon. PLEASE!!!

awl

Thanks for all the good info! I am trying to get a release date but have came across nothing more than speculation to its release being the end of November.

In response to this quote, I am having a hard time believing this because I just went through the user manual for both the S720(Quest) and the HTC5800(Bell). They are seemingly the same phone, but the 720 has more ram/rom and it doesnt have a Java feature like the 5800. What is even more interesting is the fact that HTC lists on its website that the 720 has "ROM: 256MB, RAM: 64MB" and the user manual for the 5800 state the LIBR100 (which is the model number for both devices) has "• ROM-Nand Flash: 128 MB (Standard) • RAM: 64 MB DDR." This would prove that the two "Libras" from Quest and Bell are in fact different. You say that the two phones are S720s but the Bell manual gives specs of a HTC5800(Bell). Furthermore, the HTC website depicts two versions of the HTC5800. One version has more ram/rom, a "rectangular" appearance, and is used by Quest, the other has less ram/rom, a "rounded" appearance, and is used by Bell.

That being said, how do you know the SMT5800 is the HTC720 wrapped in a different coat? The picture of the HTC5800(Bell) looks identical to the one Verizon has showed. Who is to say its not the S730 (wouldnt that be sweet!) isnt wrapped in a different shell? Perhaps verizon will get the HTC5800 that quest has, but then it wouldnt look like the picture Verizon has been showing off.

It is known for a fact that the smt5800 is not the S730 1: the 730 has a second small camera on the front for video conference. 2: it is gsm not cdma. 3: mainly ment for europe like the S710 was when it came out (My own speculation)

Also if your look at verizons site. and bell Canada's site the phones look identical. maybe different memory options for different carriers i can't wait to buy the damn thing.

__________________
Phone First, PDA Second.
xh3dx.gamer@gmail.com
Robert J. Barrett
Ham Callsign: kd7jur
Gamer: xh3dx

http://miniprofile.xfire.com/bg/sh/type/3/xh3dx.png

I'm a current XV6700 user looking to move to a new Smartphone by the end of the year. I'm leaning towards the 5800 mainly for its smaller form factor, though I would probably then have to spring for an unlimited data plan with VZW due to the lack of wi-fi (I had been considering adding the plan for use with my 6700 anyway though, since wi-fi is not quite ubiquitous yet ). I'd like to wait until I can see all three of the i760, 6800, and 5800 in store so I can do at least a basic hands-on comparison though. Anyone else in the same boat?

I You want to play with all three right now before they are all out on verizon do what i did. Go to the verizon store and play with the i760. then find your local qwest wireless store to play with the 6800 and the 5800. the have them both. although the only place i found a qwest store was in our malls. idk about you. GL though