Yesterday afternoon, the folks at HTC finally announced the Aussie release of the HTC Hero and HTC Tattoo. The good news? They’re being sold unlocked through Harvey Norman for $799 and $599 respectively. The bad news? That means you’ll have to find your own contract with a data plan, which isn’t necessarily the easiest thing in the world.Both phones only work on the 900/2100MHz HSPA networks, which means you’re on Voda or Optus (and not Telstra like we heard), unless you’re happy sitting on 2G speeds. The Tattoo will also let you buy custom body cases for $30 from Garskin.
The lack of a carrier partner means that there won’t be any over-the-air software updates, which probably won’t phase too many Optus Dream owners. And while that price is a bit more expensive than getting an unlocked version from overseas, HTC were quick to point out that you won’t get a proper Australian warranty if you grey import.
For everyone who has been waiting for the Hero to launch in Australia, what do you think about this launch strategy? Is selling it unlocked a good or bad move on HTC’s part?