There’s a fond place in my heart set aside for the HTC Hero. It was the first device I ever had the pleasure of experiencing Android on, and while I’m not an everyday Android user, the hardware was rock solid… and… I have to admit I enjoyed my maiden Android experience very much.
The Android-powered Hero that I had the privilege of putting through its paces was from TELUS… and I’ve just learned the good folks at the carrier have discontinued the device *single tear*. It launched on TELUS back in November of 2009, and enjoyed a very good run on the carrier. If for some reason you’d still like to get your hands on one, your best bet would be to pop-in to a TELUS location to see if any are in-stock. Last I checked, the Hero was removed completely from the TELUS website.
TELUS has moved onward and upward with their Android offerings, and their current lineup is not so shabby. My current choice would be the HTC Desire (it’s basically the next generation HTC Hero), however there’s also the LG Shine Plus, Motorola Charm, Motorola Backflip and Motorola Milestone (Canada’s DROID) to choose from. The Samsung Galaxy Apollo is coming soon, too. Pricing on these devices ranges from $29.99 to $79.99 on the typical 3-year term. For more information, browse TELUS’ selection of smartphones, and check-off the ‘Android’ checkbox.
One final *tip of the cap* to you, my TELUS HTC Hero. You were a solid performer, and yes, we sure did have some great times…but now we must make room for the new breed of Android goodness. Time to retire and settle-in with Android 2.1. That’s as far as you’re going to get, my friend. Gone but never forgotten.
[Via: MobileSyrup]