While we still encourage you to select the best Touch Pro2 for your money based on network coverage and call quality in the area(s) where you will be using your phone most, there are little nuances in the CDMA models of the coveted flagship HTC Windows Mobile Professional business phone that may give Sprint’s iteration a slight edge over its Verizon Wireless cousin. Read on to learn more about our findings!

Startup:

There is a slight difference in initial, first-time startup. The Sprint model goes retro with the “Align Screen” calibration screen while Verizon Wireless jumps right in to a setup wizard the first time the device turns on, guiding you to setup some of the tabs in HTC’s TouchFLO 3D UI from email to weather. It should be noted that if you do a hard reset on the Verizon Wireless model, Big Red requires you to activate the phone all over again, and they’ll guide you through that process to properly configure your Windows Phone on their network, which will soft reset again after activiation. Sprint’s model was more straight forward and you didn’t have to re-activate your phone every time you hard reset, which should not be frequent at all since both models come with an abundance of RAM and ROM with capaibilities to add storage via a micro USB card.

TouchFLO 3D:

Speaking of TF3D, the difference between Sprint an Verizon isn’t just cosmetic. Sprint opted for a grayish blue TF3D background color with the selected tabs highlighted in orange. Verizon went more subtle, with a black background and steel grey highlights. What makes up the difference is the added programs you get. Sprint includes a tab on TouchFLO 3D for Sprint Navigation, which will launch right into the Sprint Navigation program—a subset of TeleNav—so you can get your directions from the main screen rather than pulling up the programs menu to boot up the GPS program. Also of note is Sprint TV, a tab that will launch Sprint’s rebranded version of what looks to be MobiTV. Verizon didn’t include tabs for those; though instead of TeleNav, Verizon opted for its proprietary Verizon Navigator, found in the Programs menu.

Programs:

What Apple fans refer to as apps, there are quite a few goodies on the Sprint version that we didn’t find a comparable equivalent on Verizon Wireless’ hardware. The Sprint Touch Pro2 includes Sprint’s proprietary Sprint TV, Sprint Music (for purchasing tunes), Nascar, and NFL apps to help make your business-class Straight Talking Touch Pro2 more entertainment-ready. Verizon Wireless? well, better stick with the Office documents, PowerPoints, and Excel spreadsheets, which you’ll also find on Sprint’s hardware too.

Java Support:

One of the more crucial programs of note is a Java virtual machine, which will essentially run many Java programs where there isn’t already a native app for Windows Mobile yet. Some of those include a Gmail client and also Opera Mini, which some people may find less useful since the Sprint and Verizon Wireless Touch pro2 models already come with the 9.5 version of Opera Mobile built-in and as the standard default browser.

However, it should be noted that only the Sprint version of the CDMA Touch Pro2 comes with a Java virtual machine. Sprint calls theirs the Sprint Titan engine. We can’t find something similar on Verizon Wireless so you may be left out of the Java games loop on that one, unless you can find and download a third-party program that will run Java apps.

Call Quality:

In some non-scientific call quality tests, I noticed that Sprint’s network is a bit better than the Verizon Wireless network in my area in a suburb of Los Angeles, California. Calls on the Sprint Touch Pro2 sound a bit cleaner and crisper, and their Straight Talk speakerphone conference quality sounds a bit clearer.

I should also note that through the regular earpiece, the Sprint model sounds like a regular phone should. On the Verizon Wireless model, I could actually hear myself through the earpiece—it’s not bad and it’s not delayed as some cellular echoes sound. It just sounds like a pass-through microphone where I can hear myself talking, as if you’re MCing a wedding party. That may be a network glitch on the Verizon Wireless model. Here, Sprint definitely edges out Verizon. According to HTC PR, the network glitch usually lasts at the longest a few hours or a day and should go away. Not with my model, though, as I’ve experienced this for every call for a week already. If I didn’t love to hear myself talk, that may be a problem.

Verizon Wireless actually mis-interpreted my complaint that their Touch Pro2 exhibits the echoing issue; they actually thought it was Sprint’s model that displayed this behavior. To that end, Verizon’s PR person states: It happens when the phone isn’t tapping the network properly. Most customers would head back to the store with a phone that did that. Sorry, Big Red, it’s all about the network, and it is your network that displays this fault.

Internet Speed Test:

If there could be redemption for a network call quality, it may be data download speeds. Verizon Wireless’ Touch Pro2 definitely trumped the poor performance speed on Big Red’s network with my MiFi experience, getting consistently over 1.2 Mbps download speeds—even when tethered over WiFi using the free, downloadable HTC Internet Sharing program or the $30 WMWiFiRouter program. Sprint’s data speeds seem a tad slower, but not my much. It’s definitely a photo finish on this one.

Talk Time:

I haven’t had a chance to play too long with either models, but there is a bit of a discrepancy in talk times quoted. Verizon Wireless quotes their talk time to be a little over 5-hours of continuous gabbing while Sprint’s should last only four hours by word of the press release.

The discrepancy in battery life may boil down to just marketing, however. HTC’s PR rep informed me that both devices are virtually identical, so they should have the same performance. According to that rep, this is just an example of being conservative – some operators will take a ‘worst-case’ number, others will take more of a mid-point….


Keyboard:

While there are larger keyboard variations and discrepancies that we should examine, I did notice some small usability factors on the keyboard layouts. On Sprint’s model, the number row follows the number row on many traditional desktop and laptop keyboards—with the “1″ key corresponding to the exclamation “!”. On Verizon’s model, the 1 key corresponds with the “~” symbol and the “N” key corresponds with the “!”, making use of the “FN” button as a secondary input. Also, the Sprint’s model places the comma on the left side of the keyboard while Verizon has it on the right, accessible with the “FN” button.

Buttons:

There is a power button on the top of the device on the left side. There is also an End button that does double duty when it is pressed and held. On Sprint’s model, pressing and holding the Power button will actually completely turn off the device. Pressing and holding the End button on Sprint will turn off the wireless as a quick way to enter flight mode when traveling or trying to conserve battery life.

On Verizon Wireless, pressing and holding on the End button will actually completely power down the device. On both models, a single press of the Power button basically turns on or off the backlight (kind of like a sleep/wake button). Additionally, Verizon Wireless makes the Power button seem more like a backlight on/off toggle–when the screen is off and you hit the End button, the screen display comes on with the message Backlight is off. Press button to turn on with an arrow pointing the user to the Power button.

Also of note is that Sprint’s button bar on the front of the phone—Call Send, Windows, Back, and Call End button—are all clear so they light up white. On the plus side, it’s uniform and creates a nice design. Users, however, may find it too bright sometimes in a dark environment. On the other hand, Verizon uses green and red for the Send and End buttons, which may help users identify the button’s function quickly, but also creates a Christmas color theme. I prefer Sprint’s non-descript button coloring.

Hard Reset:

A hard reset, otherwise known as wiping or clearing memory to factory conditions, can be achieved via software. To do this, users can navigate to the Settings tab on TouchFLO 3D, and hitting the Left Soft Button, indicating All Settings, and be taken to the standard Windows Mobile Settings pane—a “Control Panel” scheme for Windows Mobile.

On Sprint’s model, to restore a device, there is an icon called “Clear Storage” and on Verizon Wireless, users would need to navigate to the Clear Storage tab under the “Memory” icon. I found that the former is easier for new users to the platform and requires a lot less digging. To clear storage, users need to enter in a code—1234—and then the process gets activated so you don’t inadvertently wipe your device.

GPS:

If GPS is important to you, and you’ve read about our Touch Pro2 GPS lag poll, both models seem to exhibit noticeable GPS lags with third-party, non-bundled GPS mapping software like TomTom. I tried TomTom 7 on both and the program showed so much visual location delays that it was unusuable, but the voice prompts were still spot on. It seems that Verizon Wireless’ model—at least my model—has longer delays and lags than the Sprint model with TomTom 7.

To be fair though, both models performed sufficiently with their over-the-air (OTA) subscription-based navigation solutions that come pre-bundled. Sprint includes their rebranded version of TeleNav called Sprint Navigation and Verizon Wireless has their proprietary solution dubbed Verizon Navigator. Sprint’s model feels more integrated with TouchFLO 3D while Verizon’s could be accessed via the Programs menu by hitting the Windows Button.

Global Phone Capabilities:

Sprint’s model comes with its SIM card unlocked for international use. I tried an AT&T and T-Mobile SIM card in the device and it did not register for domestic use. Sprint’s model will force you to use Sprint as the primary network in the USA, which is fine.

On the other hand, Verizon Wireless seems to be suffering from an identity crisis, bogged by its devotion to CDMA technologies in the US and its partner Vodafone’s GSM capabilities in other parts of the world. What Verizon Wireless did right is that they really did promote this as a global phone, and as such they included a variety of different charger plugs for various different countries in the box. Nice!

Theoretically, the CDMA Touch Pro2 on both Verizon Wireless and Sprint should be able to support AT&T’s HSPA/UMTS networks as the settings are there for GSM and UMTS 850 MHz and 1900 MHz bands. You can read all about my rant regarding the support being there and Sprint and Verizon disabling that capability. Additionally, on XDA-Developers, CDMA Touch Pro2 owners on Canadian CDMA networks were able to get their phones SIM-unlocked and use the phone on AT&T’s network in the States; there was no word if 3G worked on AT&T’s UMTS network, but the support seems to be there on a theoretical level.

When I had asked HTC regarding the issue of support for a domestic GSM network, the manufacturer’s PR rep informed me that CDMA phones are meant to work only with a foreign SIM card. Here’s what he had said:

…the devices are designed to only attach to a GSM operator in a non-US market. The only time that the devices would connect to a US GSM operator signal is in the case of a 911 call where the phone could not pick up a CDMA signal – in that case, it will connect to a domestic GSM operator.

I am giving Sprint an edge on this one as their device is already SIM-unlocked so you can use it with any foreign SIM card. With Verizon Wireless, you’ll need to take an extra step and deal with their customer service department first. Again, you can read my full article on this topic if you’re interested in learning more.

Value:

Many of the differences between the two are visual, from the visual style of the hardware and back cover to the visual style of TouchFLO 3D. The value proposition for the competing CDMA models is interesting. On one hand, you have a cheaper Verizon Wireless Touch Pro2 at $199 compared to Sprint’s $349. But on the other hand, if you don’t want to invest in a lot of software (Sprint includes more software bundled in its devices) and want a cheaper voice plan, the Sprint model may be a better value in the long run as you get mobile TV and Sprint Navigation included in the price with many of their plans—Verizon Navigator is an added subscription cost of up to $10 per month.

Also, Sprint’s voice plans gives you more minutes so you can talk more on your phone. Add to that you won’t hear your own echo, making a more pleasant conversation experience. Sprint should be able to seal the deal with its more sane look at SIM unlocking and this should seal the deal for travelers who want CDMA in the US but also want to carry only one phone and pop in a new SIM card when overseas.

If you are, interested in the Verizon Wireless Touch Pro2, be sure to check back with pocketnow.com for our videos of that specific model coming up. The Sprint unboxing, hardware tour, and software tour videos have already been posted.