yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Touch HD General] ez2remember:
Orange branding?

Sim locked?
[Touch HD General] k3v:
yes and yes
[Touch HD General] R3PUBL1K:
Jsut heard though the grapevine - which is why I said IF :D
[Touch HD General] peggowski:
well althoughit isnt officially on o2 or at least officially it wont be until 2009 at the earliest as orange have an exclusivity agreement. you can however get it on o2 from the following link and i have phoned them every day this week and they are adamant that it will be in stock tomorrow. i have ordered mine!

http://www.mobiles.co.uk/orange-htc-touch-hd.html
[Touch HD General] Acelister:
Wow, I'm glad you all are happy with my help :) I'll try to answer questions in order. If I miss any, I'm sorry!

I'm sorry, I mean that from first puttin in the SIM to the point where you can send an MMS, takes 9 minutes. Not counting the time it takes to take the picture and type the phone number, that is...

The only "Orangification" they've had is the logo on the bottom of the battery cover, luckily! Not even a logo on the box nor a piece of paper baring the word Orange!

The script is written down. We just print it when we need to use it. XD

And the site is large and surrounded in barbed wire, you need a car pass or an appointment to get on-site and they've recently beefed up security. :P

No, sadly. I was waiting with baited breath, but from what I've overheard, there was some sort of problem and Orange isn't taking it. Not a clue what may have gone wrong.

Yah, exactly. :D Country locked to Orange UK. We have international SIMs that we try out in them.

Now the news people are waiting for: The higher-ups want the phones in shops by Saturday. We finished testing and released them to be Built at about 4pm, so if they're on the ball they should be built by 10pm. There were a few problems, 3 had a single speck of white dust under the screen in the top half (so watch out for that) and about 6 gave an error message when trying to ring the Answerphone. That goes away when you turn it off and on again.

Here's the software, btw:

ROM Version: 1.14.405.3 (22273) WWE

ROM Date: 10/24/08

Radio Version: 1.09.25.14

Protocol Version: 52.49a.25.26U

Now, baring in mind I've been phone testing for 2 years now, I've never seen an HTC software like that. Not even on a prototype. It's definitely not Orangified, I'm just a little puzzled. The (22273) bit and the 49a are just something I've not seen.
[Touch HD General] The doomed:
Many Thanks :D
[Touch HD General] SiliconS:
Thanks for this info, Acelister. Hope you're not putting your job at risk by revealing these insider details.

Your comments shouldn't put you at risk, since they illustrate that Orange's quality control is fairly thorough.
[Touch HD General] trentend:
I renewed my Orange contract today (18 month business contract, three shared phones, 2 SE C902's and 1 Touch HD: 1110 minutes free, any network free calls at the weekend, 1000 texts, 1Gb data bundle on the HD, free insurance - not sure how I managed it but the cost over the contract period can't be much more than the cost of the phones - about £1000 for 18 months). I had to do it today because my billing period is tommorrow. Business retentions took my order, and were sending the C902's straight out, with a promise to send out my HD as soon as the stock becomes available.

I'll let you know when I get it.
[Touch HD General] k3v:
Thanks for the heads up

I wonder if we will be able to call 150 and get one ordered today?
[Touch HD General] Acelister:
Orange employees aren't allowed to give out these details (apparently) but I'm not Orange. And I'm not giving out anything that can't be found out elsewhere. I'll double check on the system today, to see if they've been Built yet, and how many are scheduled for delivery. :) Any problems I'll let you know ;)
[Touch HD General] k3v:
cheers, it will save me calling them for the 13th time!
[Touch HD General] frustin:
I already did about 10mins ago, nothing yet.
[Touch HD General] donbronzi:
Aceliser, major respects mate. Tried to leave this yeterday but the site seemed to be down? I called my contact and he insisted that they would be in stock at Orange today, but might not turn up on the systems until late afternoon or even tomorrow!

The time is nearing. Again to acelister thanks for all your info, really appreciate it.

DB
[Touch HD General] must_dash:
As of 08:03 this morning it was not on 150 Upgrades.
[Touch HD General] jon-:
Just spoke to orange upgrades (0900 7th Nov), they're saying early next week and you can't pre order. It better be monday as that's my billing day.
[Touch HD General] donbronzi:
Don't want to confuse the issue or fill the post with waffle, but this week i have been told that the HD will be available in 3 wks, then it might not be, then tomorrow, then next week. I reall don't think upgrades and retentions actually have a clue.

Infact i think we have more knowledge thanks to acelister!
[Touch HD General] jon-:
This is true :) The woman on the phone said this was information they got quite late in the day yesterday. I'm sure more people will be speaking to upgrades / retentions today.

Does anyone know if you can preorder on retentions?
[Touch HD General] tonyblack:
I've just spoken to my local Orange retail shop and was informed that they had been told that there should be 1000 units going out to Orange shops for the weekend. This equates to about 2 units per outlet. Was advised to phone the outlet early tomorrow (Saturday)morning to find out wether they had arrived or not.
[Touch HD General] m.r.davies:
acelister, man you've been great, thanks sooo much for your help with this.

I'm hoping late today or monday i'll have it ordered!
[Touch HD General] earazi:
mobiles.co.uk delay

Looks like mobiles.co.uk haven't received their expected stock today

http://www.mobiles.co.uk/o2-htc-touch-hd.html

UPDATE: First stock expected 17th of November, pre-order yours now!
[Touch HD General] Acelister:
The system has shown them as being moved to the Build lines since about 11.15, so they should be built (1,568 devices) by about 3pm, I'd say. The last trucks I've heard leave about 7pm to deliver to shops, so tomorrow sounds like a good bet. :)

I can imagine they would only send out 1,000 phones with the rest being for internet/phone orders and upgrades.

Again, glad to be of help! Donations can be sent to...
[Touch HD General] k3v:
thanks for the infon once again.

When do you think we will be able to upgrade on the phone? Do the phones get delivered from the warehouse that they are in at the momont?
[Touch HD General] R3PUBL1K:
LOL ME -

Thanks for the heads-up
[Touch HD General] Acelister:
In the past I've been on the Orange webite and seen "out of stock" on something when I knew there'd been at least 10,000 for 3 days... So I don't know when they would get through to Customer Services.

But yes, they go from here to wherever the customer is. Orange Shop, Argos, Woolworths, thier own home... So, no secondary warehouse for these.
[Touch HD General] tonyblack:
I've just had a call from a very nice lady at the Orange upgrades desk to inform me that the system is now showing the HDs as available from sometime this afternoon. She could'nt say exactley when and she finishes at 2pm.

As I am flying out to the USA early on monday morning on business and Orange don't do deliveries on Saturdays, looks like my only option is going to be to get to the Orange retail outlet nice and early tomorrow morning.
[Touch HD General] k3v:
I can feel a phone call coming on!

edit:

Ive just given in and called 150 to get.......... "we just had the information passed to us this morhing and the touch HD will be available at the end of the month" DOH

edit 2

Ive just called back to be informed by a nice lady( same one??) who said they willbe available later this afternoon
[Touch HD General] vafanculo13:
150 Nonsense.

Well im just too excited to wait for any adverts on the tv or on the store because i've been waiting for the phone for about a month and i almost got the N96, so i called last week twice and today 3 times, (and i went to a store which didn't help much because they seem to know less than a child, i just called again and they said the on the computer is showing sometime in november DUH, thats veryyyyyy especific. Now i look like a child waiting for the damn thing.
[Touch HD General] Mister Q:
Looks like we're going to have to start planning which shops we're heading for tomorrow morning to give ourselves the best chance of getting one...damn I'm geeky :) I will personally heading for Redhill, Crawley, Epsom, Sutton and if I've no luck, Croydon, to get mugged! :eek:
[Touch HD General] vafanculo13:
Delivery

If so were realy fukcd, because, it is estimated that they are shipping around 1000 hansets to Orange shops across the UK so our chances of getting one by tomorrow are very slim, we have to understand that the sellers also want the fricking thing, and they are always the first to get their hands on it, like this guy on Orange Victoria Station told it'd be in stock in a couple of weeks time "but not for them" and then the bastard laughed on my face . Why in the name of Mickey Mouse they say something like that if they aren't sure yet.
[Touch HD General] R3PUBL1K:
CS just told me that should be today too. but shops get them first?
[Touch HD General] vafanculo13:
They were supose to be in stock at the same time but it's almost impossible to do so, but what would you preffer? to wait an extra 2 days, or go to the store tomorrow morning to get it?
[Touch HD General] m.r.davies:
dont suppose the shops offer the retention deals do they, or is that direct to call center?
[Touch HD General] jon-:
Shops work to different structures than call centres, retentions is phone early.
[Touch HD General] prophetuser:
Monday shipping

Just had a call from Orange UK Executive Office and they said the shippment has not yet been received for despatch so it is likely to be Monday before the HD is sent out to customers.
[Touch HD General] R3PUBL1K:
My contact in retail just informed of an email suggesting he should have some by 10am tomorrow and wiill save me one
[Touch HD General] vafanculo13:
New 150 information

Wooooooooooow. i just spoke to someone again at the Orange costumer services line asking about the HD and the lady on the line told me that "She is not aware of any HTC releases any time soon and that she never heard of a HTC Touch HD, my GOSH they realy surprise me every time i call, i think i'll just keep on calling till i get a reasonable answer, after all the call is free.
[Touch HD General] vafanculo13:
well he could save two then
[Touch HD General] Super Chimp:
Is their some kind of exclusivity to Orange that blocks SIM free versions?

As I was told in shops that their wouldn't be any until December, yet Play & Expansys etc all have it listed for any day now. Something seems a bit screwy here.
[Touch HD General] bond007:
Its because the shops dont know what they talking about and are not interested until the have the device in the shop
[Touch HD General] vafanculo13:
well diferent suppliers, contracts and all sorts of Mickey Mouse science: shops want to sell, it doesnt matter what, if **** is the new fashion they would be importing it from the fastest and cheapest supplier straight to your door via Royal Mail.
[Touch HD General] R3PUBL1K:
I was told that the Orange retail get them before 150 do - at least a week before. If I get mine tomorrow as promised - I will be chuffed :p Though I know 150 or on-line will give me a better deal-I just cant wait...
[Touch HD General] vafanculo13:
the thing with this other tarifs other the orange's is that the HD is not included on the contract itself, it works like a free gift so you can cancel after 1 month and get the mobile for free lmao so be carefull and read the contract well.
[Touch HD General] vafanculo13:
C'mon just give us a hint of where they gonna have the phone mate.
[Touch HD General] Super Chimp:
Why haven't Orange provided a unlimited data plan to go with the Touch HD rather than limiting people to 250MB usage?
[Touch HD General] lsainsbury:
'Cus they are bloody stupid?
[Touch HD General] Super Chimp:
Are Orange now the meanest UK network when it comes to data?
[Touch HD General] Acelister:
I'm sorry to way that when I left at 5pm, the phones still hadn't reached the Build lines... They were on the system as going across, but I dunno what the delay was. They had until 7pm to get them shipped out, so it looks like bad planning by Orange. Oh, what a surprise...

Sorry for the bad news, folks! But if it's any consolation, I can't get an HD either! My prototype has to stay in the office. ><
[Touch HD General] trentend:
Orange are generally uncompetitive for data bundles. It's why we moved our main business account to t-mobile. Our secondary account I've kept with Orange to get my hands on a HD asap. On that I've negotiated a 1Gb data bundle. So it is possible if you are on the right tariff, and have sufficient negotiating power. But then on three phones I was spending an average of £200 a month on the previous contract (although I wont be spending anything like that on the new one).

I would have gone to t-mobile and taken a G! if it had been anything more than a glorified prototype. I expect the next generation android phones to be much better and our next choice in 12-18 months. Meanwhile I'm praying for android to be ported to the diamond, so I can try it out on my spare. I expect it would be a very good fit on a phone like the HD. Ultimately that's he sort of phone I'm looking for (but with a capacitive screen, and a compass).
[Touch HD General] lsainsbury:
I think so - Unlimited*.....*FUP: 250MB sucks.
[Touch HD General] lsainsbury:
You've just made me unhappy. Oh well - at least I have Sky HD to look forward to tomorrow!
[Touch HD General] SingaporeAirlines:
That's why I don't want to move onto Orange.

The networks are semi-smart. They have obviously found that data to be their short-term cash cow and are milking it for all its worth. One night recently I went through the Orange site and found that Orange UK were making very strong revenues in the data department.

I'm just so thankful mobiles.co.uk do the Touch HD with O2.
[Touch HD General] Trixster101:
Flagged as out of stock now on their site :@

Still, wont stop me calling again this morning :)
[Touch HD General] R3PUBL1K:
So I see - Its gone from coming soon :)

Just hope i get my phone call later today. then i'll only have to travel 100 miles to get it
[Touch HD General] fex:
wtf!! how can it jump from coming soon to out of stock instantly when there was no way for existing customers to pre order via the orange uk site?

Ive been an orange multiple contract holder for over 3 years and recently delayed an upgrade on one of my accounts for the last 2 months waiting for this "exclusive to orange" iphone killer to be realised and now it states out of stock!

if this is the case then no existing "loyal" customers have been giving fair opportunity to get this phone??

F@$K orange if thats theyre attitude.
[Touch HD General] fex:
most odd?

When i posted my the previous post it was definately as stated above marked as out of stock on the official orange uk website but now @5:15 am (gmt) it is again being listed as "coming soon" in the upgrade area of the online shop

methinks somebody in the orange web dev department is taking the piss lol:confused:

I think the site is being updated as I type this as it will let me access all of my user account details exept when i click the final submit upgrade button it states

"Sorry, we are experiencing some issues at the moment:

Please try again and if the problem persists, contact us by email to report the problem and we will get back to you shortly."

could be a good sign
[Touch HD General] vafanculo13:
The fricking thing is showing again as "out of Stock" thats too anoying, and im talking with the bastards right now and they said that the phone was avaliable yesterday for about 30 minutes 200 units thats bul****, now they say it'll be avaliable back on monday or tuesday.And is a different thing every time i call, i just called again and "Tracy" said that they phone is due to be realeased later today lmao, is just a circus you know mere than them when they were suppose to know more than you.
[Touch HD General] tonyblack:
I have just arrived back from a wasted journey to my local Orange retail outlet. I was assured yesterday that they would have at least 2 phones being delivered early this morning. When I arrived there I was told that the HDs hadn't been delivered and that the system was now showing that they were not due until at least mid-November.

I then phoned 150 who had phoned me yesterday and told me that they would be available from late Friday (yesterday). They are now saying that the only information that they have on their system on the HDs is that they are due for release in mid-November.

How can a Telecomms company have such poor internal communications?
[Touch HD General] R3PUBL1K:
About from my other Telecom provider - I have been with orange since 1994 - When France Telecom took them over its been downhill all the way, use to be a great CS team. helpful and informed.
[Touch HD General] k3v:
none of the shops i called this morning have any, im so tempted just to go get a touch pro on voda

just called meadowhall in sheffield to be informed that they have had their delivery for the day... and it would be monday earliest.... nottingham on the other hand will probably have some in their 2pm delivery. Sales bull and ignorance
[Touch HD General] JPGLOS:
I rang a couple of times yesterday and the final call said the system was due an update yesterday around 8pm ish. Rang this morning dead on 8 am as soon as the upgrades opened and the women had no idea when it is supposed to be released she also said that the website stock has no relation to the stock that the upgrades has (didnt know that!). I decided to ring back immediately after reading the previous post regarding bad communication at CS. The more helpful lady told me that there was an update on the system since yesterday and that the HTC touch HD is due for release early this week in stores Monday or Tuesday. But she said that there stock could be in this early afternoon between 1 and 2 for upgrades as it does take time to put the delivery on the system.

Hope this helps
[Touch HD General] vafanculo13:
Well you'll regret later whe the hd finaly comes out, "2012 probably"
[Touch HD General] vafanculo13:
thats the latest conversation i had with the bastards through the web site sales team:

System@Orange: Welcome, we'll be right with you.

System@Orange: Allan has joined this session!

System@Orange: Connected with Allan

Allan@Orange: Hello, I am your Sales Advisor today, my name is Allan, can I take your first name please?

You: Douglas

Allan@Orange: How can I help you today Douglas?

You:

hi Allan i hope you can assist me on that, im trying to get my hands on the new HTC Touch HD.

You:

but it seems that there is a communication issue with you guys because every time i call there is a different answer

You:

out of stock, comming in 2 weeks time, coming later today, we had 200 units yesterday.

5 min of silence.

Allan@Orange: I don't have any information on when the HTC Touch Diamond will be available sorry.

You: not the HTC touch Diamond, im talking aboout the HTC Touch "HD"

another 5 min

Allan@Orange: Sorry, you will need to keep checking the coming soon page for more information on when the HTC Touch HD will be available.

You: Well thaks for you valuable help, have a nice day.

Allan@Orange: Thanks for getting in touch. Have a nice day.

System@Orange: Allan has left this session!

System@Orange: The session has ended.

Allan is a wise man he must have been Alistair Darling's, **** Cheney's or even Dalai Lama's Sales Advisor at some point in his life.
[Touch HD General] lsainsbury:
Spoken to my Orange store this morning....the girl forgot her keys for the delivery door and missed the delivery!! :mad:

They should be there Monday.

She's phoning her area manager to to what deal they can do me and going to let me know today. Hopefully.
[Touch HD General] R3PUBL1K:
Sniff, sniff... that smells like BullCrap :D
[Touch HD General] lsainsbury:
Think it was quite genuine - she was very helpful and I'm not normally one to be taken in by BS!
[Touch HD General] m.r.davies:
orange in cardiff were due to get them this morning but they never turned up, 150 is saying out of stock, but she said they may come in this afternoon.

The guy in the orange shop said they were still in testing,

I tried to tell him they weren't but he looked at strange and then told me 250meg data is more than enough and that i'd only use about 7meg a month . . Is it wrong that i wanted to deck him?
[Touch HD General] vafanculo13:
No he more than deserve it.
[Touch HD General] rizwan157:
just rang orange sales. evacution due to an emergency
[Touch HD General] bond007:
I had the same thing then found out they are just looking the very same webpage as you and me, not much help.
[Touch HD General] jon-:
Just spoke to upgrades, they said due monday or tuesday but he'd drop me a text if anything changed.
[Touch HD General] rizwan157:
just spoke to them will be in stock on Monday for sure.
[Touch HD General] donbronzi:
How much stress and anticipation can 1 phone cause? No with all this build up its bound to be an anti climax!

Why is it that we seem to know more than oranges own employees?
[Touch HD General] trentend:
Well it seems that "we" don't. There's just panic and speculation at the moment. Ultimately it's only a phone. Does a day here or there really make a difference?

It sort of makes me laugh when people get irate at a company for not having volume to shift immediately when they want it. Every type of customer (upgrade, retail, new contract, retention) thinks that they should have it first. Sure it's exciting that a new top end phone is becoming available, but it's not reasonable to expect every employee of a company to be totally up to date when the information isn't available to them from their systems. The information is not available because the phone is not available in volume. It is likely that the initial shipment is already allocated (in terms of retail units and upgrade/retention offers). Is it reasonable to demand now a phone that they don't have to give?

I started my new contract today. They've said that they will send me the HD as soon as it becomes available. I may or may not get one of the initial allocation (I suspect not, as my account manager didn't respond to my progress enquiry, yesterday). Until then my tytn can take up the slack, it still makes phone calls and everything......
[Touch HD General] donbronzi:
Point taken ish!!! It takes 1 mouse click to send internal emails to every department, not really that hard is it? Numerous people on this forum are given contradictory information within minutes of calling orange CS. I quote orange 'the HTC touch HD will be in stock within the week commencing the 3rd Nov'. Why state that?

I am also happy with my kaiser, my initial point was meant to be slightly tongue in cheek, but since you pulled me up on it i really don't see how it can be so hard to keep your key departments up to date, maybe with at least a standard response.

Also just to summarise i don't think there is one person on this thread that is actually irate with orange over the HD. It is 1 of the few times i am genuinely pleased to be an orange customer!

regarding the HD It seems we do. Call the orange CS and ask about the HD yourself, you'll find a whole range of speculation, umms and errs.
[Touch HD General] jon-:
Slightly off topic (or on topic?) how did you get a new contract with the promise of a HD? I've been out of contract for 5 months now waiting for this phone but my billing date is the 10th (monday) so if i don't order the phone by the end of the weekend i won't be on a new tarrif for the HD, which means i will have to use the phone for a month with a 4mb data package. Not ideal! Should i speak to retentions? I know due to length with orange and usage i'm on the highest band for loyalty yet i've never recieved and benifits.