Sprint is set to launch the HTC Touch Pro2 on September 8th for a wallet damaging price of $350, the same price at T-Mobile.  Worst of all that’s after the $100 mail-in-rebate and 2-year contract signing.  It looks like HTC is charging carriers an arm and a leg for this device since similar smartphones generally cost about $150 less.  We’ve seen the Touch Pro2 with Verizon branding as well as an AT&T variant called the Tilt 2.  I wonder how much those carriers will be selling the phone for?

Full release after the ‘leap’

HTC Touch Pro2 from Sprint Pairs a Dynamic Must-Have Business Device with the Best Value in Wireless
Award-Winning TouchFLO™ 3D User Interface with Sliding QWERTY Keyboard Makes It Easy to Juggle Work and Personal Needs on America’s Most Dependable 3G Network; Available Sept. 8

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. & BELLEVUE, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Aug. 31, 2009– Sprint (NYSE:S) and HTC Corporation are answering the call for a no-compromise converged device on a blazingly fast network with HTC Touch Pro2. The attractive new phone combines the productivity of Windows Mobile® 6.1, the vibrant TouchFLO user interface and a variety of fun-to-use entertainment applications, including Sprint TV with live and on-demand programming, and Sprint’s exclusive sports applications NFL Mobile Live and NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile.

Beginning Sept. 8, customers will be able to purchase HTC Touch Pro2 through the Web (www.sprint.com), Telesales (1-800-SPRINT1) and sales representatives for $349.99 with a two-year service agreement and after $100 mail-in rebate.

The latest in a series of best-in-class Windows Mobile devices, HTC Touch Pro2 features a large 3.6-inch WVGA variable-angle tilting touch screen and an ultra-wide, slide-out keyboard that is larger than its predecessor. Touch Pro2’s high-speed connectivity over Sprint’s 3G network (EVDO Rev. A) with Wi-Fi and world phone capability ensures that customers stay connected on the go.

The Sprint Mobile Broadband Network (inclusive of data roaming) reaches more than 271 million people, 18,652 cities and 1,838 airports. The Sprint Networks (inclusive of data roaming) have three times the coverage of AT&T’s current 3G network and more than 20 times the coverage of T-Mobile’s current 3G network, both based on square miles.

“More than ever, today’s wireless customers expect to stay productive whether they are on the road or in the office,” said Kevin Packingham, senior vice president - Product Development for Sprint. “HTC Touch Pro2 on America’s most dependable 3G network1 makes that a reality. And with Sprint’s Simply Everything plans, which include voice minutes, messaging and data for one low price, we let customers focus on all their phone can deliver.”

Sprint’s Simply EverythingSM plan is another excellent choice that provides unlimited nationwide calling, texting, e-mail, social networking, Web browsing, GPS navigation, Sprint TV, streaming music, NFL Mobile Live, NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile and much more for only $99.99 per month. That’s a savings of $1,200 over two years vs. a comparable AT&T iPhone® plan2. Sprint Everything Data plans with unlimited messaging and data start at just $69.99 for 450 minutes with unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling and unlimited nights and weekends starting at 7 p.m.

Equipped with the latest version of HTC’s hallmark TouchFLO 3D user interface, HTC Touch Pro2 offers a user experience that makes keeping in contact with colleagues and customers easy and intuitive. Easily switch from e-mail to a call with one touch by simply selecting a friend or colleague’s picture right in your e-mail. Customers can create an instant office with Straight Talk’s dual microphones and speakers to filter out noise.

“Unlike devices that focus solely on specifications, HTC Touch Pro2 was designed with the philosophy that people should be at the center of the communications experience,” said Jason Mackenzie, vice president of HTC America. “So, instead of having to search through multiple applications to find a specific message, HTC Touch Pro2 intuitively organizes all communications, whether voice, text or e-mail, under a single contact card.”

Additional business features available on HTC Touch Pro2 include International Quad-Band capability (CDMA, GSM); Straight Talk™ Technology with dual speakers; dual microphones and a mute button to provide a professional speakerphone experience; full HTML browser from Opera; stereo Bluetooth wireless technology; WorldCard Mobile Business Card Scanner; Facebook integration; and Linked inboxes, which easily link personal and work contacts.

The extra-large tilting display makes the HTC Touch Pro2 an outstanding device for enjoying video content, while the built-in 3.5 mm audio jack makes it easy to listen to music with virtually any headphones. A microSD card slot makes it simple to expand storage with an optional memory card for large libraries of multimedia content or for saving images captured with HTC Touch Pro2’s auto-focus 3.2 megapixel camera/camcorder.