Best Buy, Radio Shack gearing up for Touch Diamond launch on Sprint?

It seems that Sprint's letting the cat out of the bag on its upcoming Touch successor -- within its trusted circle of retailers, anyway. We've now received some juicy morsels of information suggesting that both Best Buy and Radio Shack have been told to expect shipments of the MP6950 Touch Diamond in the next few weeks, with the big blue box tentatively expecting stock on August 17 (we think they're fooling themselves there, but it'd be nice) and the Shack expecting a more realistic-sounding September 2 launch. Along with the Touch Pro, the Touch Diamond should go a long way toward revitalizing Sprint's smartphone lineup at a time when the carrier can pretty much use every little bit of help it can get. In fact, we think we'll hook this up to a SERO plan and... ah, wait, never mind.

[Thanks, anonymous tipsters]

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 4th 2008 10:16AM]

Hmm.. But it shows "Status: Deleted"

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 4th 2008 10:28AM]

Now it says:

"Desc: SPR HTC TOUCH D"

Could that Be HTC TOUCH DUAL?

I might be wrong... hope so!

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 4th 2008 11:55AM]

That is exactly what I am thinking. I hope not, but it points more towards that than anything else. Especially considering the Touch dual is a minor upgrade, and the Touch Diamond is a large upgrade (thus a whole new set of #'s)

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 4th 2008 12:55PM]

are yall stupid or what. its the touch diamond sprint never had plans to launch a touch dual. im the lucky advocate at my store that will be testing this best later on today when it arrives.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 4th 2008 1:12PM]

You sound entirely credible.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 4th 2008 2:02PM]

i would like to know what all is in the works. i work for a call center and i like to get info out to our agents ASAP. we currently show the RazR VE20 (i believe a PTT razr) and the katana Eclipse in the device launch for aug. 17th. But this does all seem completely believable about the Touch Diamond...

[periks19 Posted Aug 4th 2008 3:26PM]

I hope is not the touch dual since I want a diamond, but if it is a touch dual I think its still good that another great phone added to sprint lineup. I don't mind waiting another month for the diamond and raphael. Touch dual has already been out in Europe for a while but is still a good option considering no carrier it in the U.S.A officially has it, there are those unlocked ones though.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 4th 2008 4:42PM]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS According to that Best Buy leaked document it is the Diamond, check this out....

http://www.upcdatabase.com/item/044476806605

The UPC Code on the Best Buy Document is 044476806605 and if you look it up in the UPC Code Database online it shows it as the Diamond!!!!!!!

WOOOOOOOOOO!

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 4th 2008 5:21PM]

Best comment I have ever seen on engadget.... Thank you sir....

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 4th 2008 6:03PM]

OMG, you are the man.. nice research!

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 4th 2008 7:46PM]

has anyone found a UPC for diamond or pro for verizon?

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 5th 2008 12:03AM]

Wow, that's just incredible research there. Even Boy Genius was saying it was probably the Touch Dual, but as of the leaked HTC memo last week, it's started looking up. Now with your help, my late August/early September is complete.

Next time, include a donation link with comments like that. Epic win.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 5th 2008 7:48AM]

HTC Diamond Video

http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_touch_diamond-video-2368.php

http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_touch_diamond_vs_samsung_i900_omnia-review-262p3.php

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 4th 2008 6:40PM]

update: checked a device calendar and so far the diamond shows available approx 9/2/08. of course these things may change. hope this helps :)

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 4th 2008 6:57PM]

I just got off of the phone with sprint and apparently Bestbuy and Radioshack's get Sprint phones before Sprint. So, party on!!

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 4th 2008 7:30PM]

HOLY CRAP! I just called my local Best Buy and asked them to look up the UPC and tell me how much it rings up as, and she punched it in and said it comes up as $729.99!!!!!

There had better be some hefty discounts on this betch!

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 4th 2008 10:47PM]

Wow...you can pick up a nice laptop for that! WTF!?

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 5th 2008 12:21AM]

If youve ever been to bestbuy, or seen there catalog thing, The "regular price" of phones before discounts is astronomical

example
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8795155&type=product&id=1205537714811
bb curve at bestbuy $799.00 no contract 159 with contract

http://nextelonline.nextel.com/NASApp/onlinestore/en/Action/DisplayPhones?filterString=PDA_Smartphone_Phone_Char&id12=UHP_PhonesTab_Link_PDAandSmartphones
bb curve at sprint $569.00 no contract 149 with contract

So, there probably gonna heavily discount it at best buy.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 4th 2008 7:50PM]

Any ideas on whether this will require the Simply Everything plan?

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 4th 2008 9:00PM]

No all rumors lead to no it won't. Treo 800W does not require the everything plans.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 12th 2008 2:09PM]

A national Sprint rep confirmed to me a couple of week ago that the Touch Diamond was set to launch on 02 SEP. I was talking to him about a billing issue and asked him about the new "HTC phone" coming soon. (I didn't want to put words into his mouth by saying "Touch Diamond.") He looked it up and told me what I hoped to hear - Touch Diamond launching on 02 SEP.