Not Verizon: HTC Dragon/Passion is a GSM Android phone

Well, that didn't take long.

Looks like HTC's forthcoming "Dragon," or "Passion," Android phone isn't headed to Verizon, after all. So far as I can tell, the device will pack a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and will be released before the end of the year, but won't be headed to Big Red. Or any other CDMA carrier.

No, friends, this Passion(ate) Dragon will run on GSM.

How do I know? Some careful consideration of the clues pointed the way. Let's check out the status bars of the leaked Dragon photos and a few recent HTC Android phones, shall we?

First, the status bar of the Sprint CDMA Hero. Notice the EV-DO and Battery status icons.

Next, the status bar of the unlocked GSM Hero. Notice the 3G and Battery status icons. Compare them to the CDMA version above.

gsm hero status bar

Different, no? The CDMA version has an "Ev" (EV-DO) indicator and a curved-graph look to the battery status icon. The GSM variant has an H (for HSPA) and a squared-off battery meter.

Now look at the leaked photo (via theunlockr) and screengrab (via DroidDog) of what's said to be the Dragon/Passion:

dragon leak status bar

dragon grab status bar

(My horrible circle-and-caption highlighting job aside, I didn't alter these images in anyway via Photoshop.)

The "Dragon" photos? They look like GSM, and not CDMA, devices to me. The battery icon is the tip-off: Dragon's is a squared-off bar graph like the GSM Hero, and not the curved graph like Sprint's CDMA Hero. Even with the white status bar background in the leaked Dragon photo, you've still got the squared off graph.

Looks to me like everyone, me included, was wrong in thinking Dragon/Passion is headed to Verizon, since Big Red doesn't do GSM. My sources tell me this device is still slated for a Q4 2009 launch, however. Which leaves one big question unanswered: Who's getting the Passion(ate) Dragon for Xmas this year? Unlocked GSM? European carrier? AT&T or T-Mobile in the US?

Got a tip? Let me know!

Comments on this Post

Matthew4295 @ Dec 13, 09 10:45 PM

Back to this again? Yes the Dragon is not going to be the Verizon version of the phone, instead it will be the Google phone. There is nothing that say the Passion is not a different phone, similar to the Dragon, if not the exact same phone as the Dragon. For me, I have the Droid. Yes the next year is going to be "revolutionary" but anybody who buys an expensive phone the next year from Verizon (no matter how lightning fast it will be) is an idiot (pardon my French).

Verizon is coming out with LTE which most know of, but the reason it is a big change is that it makes Verizon become a GSM network. Therefore not only will they have to get a new phone, but any 3G phones will be as slow as a snail compared to a fighter jet. Verizon's LTE network is told to get between 50 to 80MB/s (even heard that it might be able to obtain 100MB/s)

The smartest thing to is get a phone now, or with in the next month. Anything else is a waste of money. My phone will be up in early 2011 and by that time LTE will be out and several phones will be out with it.

This is getting a little long for a comment, so if anyone objects, or agrees with this comment, please Reply to it. THANKS!

Spam

psychdoc @ Nov 12, 09 1:42 PM

Did anyone consider that the screen shot of the HTC Passion might actually be the HTC HD2. Look at the photo of the HD2, they also have the calendar widget and they run Mobil 6.5. Maybe the picture isn't actually the Passion

skinzzfan @ Nov 2, 09 1:26 PM

That looks EXACTLY like the Droid's battery icon and network status!
http://images.pcworld.com/news/graphics/174609-verizon-droid-screen_original.jpg

Herman69 @ Nov 9, 09 9:19 PM

I know, what is this idiot talking about.

Brian. @ Oct 27, 09 5:12 PM

First things first, that is a signal strength indicator, not a battery status indicator. See that battery shaped icon right next to it? That's the battery indicator. (The dragon leaked photo has half battery and full service).

More importantly, this was a pretty weak connection, especially given the fact that you didn't look at either of the other two Verizon-bound Android phones.

HTC Desire - http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/10/22/verizons-htc-desire-spotted-in-the-wild-lauching-soon/

Moto Droid - http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/10/19/motorola-droid-hands-on/

A quick look at these would have demonstrated that both of the Verizon phones have the same signal strength indicators (4 bar, 45*) as the Dragon/Passion, as well as a switch to the 3G icon over EV-DO. Ergo, this has nothing to do with GSM.

Also, just as an aside, the signal indicator doesn't even look identical to the GSM one in the pictures above, it just looks more similar than it does to the sprint phone.

Literati @ Oct 27, 09 8:00 PM

I concur with this guy. Whatever point you're trying to make, Noah, I guess I'm just not getting it. The Dragon's notification bar looks nothing like the GSM Hero's, but looks exactly like the notification bars from Verizon's upcoming CDMA Android devices. Based on my own understanding of the evidence you brought to the table, you've basically confirmed this device is not going to Sprint, At&t, or T-Mo, which leaves just 1 carrier, who suspiciously has 2 phones that have identical notification bars.

The only valid point I see being made is that this has NO Verizon branding on it, and Verizon is one carrier who enjoys their name all over their pre-production models. Check out the pre-production models of the Droid and the Calgary. I've seen Verizon on every picture.

dannydarko @ Oct 27, 09 11:33 AM

apologize i meant verizon

Barwin @ Oct 27, 09 2:23 AM

I Hope your right Noah and I hope it will be coming to Europe (the Netherlands especially) first....
Sorry for you guys but I gotta have this thingy

Walt0107 @ Oct 27, 09 1:38 AM

The pics of the leaked "dragon" look identical to the pics of the Verizon droid.

luniboy @ Oct 27, 09 1:28 AM

like many have said I have to disagree with you Noah not that it isnt a valid argument just that Verizon is starting to put the 3G status in its phones. I mean look at the Storm2 unit you are reviewing it clearly says "3G"(and even if you say you unlocked it and said that you have it on AT&T or T-Mobile I have had leaked OS's on my phone that showed the 3G status for my locked Storm) in the top corner. Also like many have stated if you check out all the droid screenshots you will see 3G status on the phone. This combined with the similar style of onscreen buttons as compaired to the droid makes it more believable that it could vey well be a Verizon bound phone.

StephenSaurusRex @ Oct 26, 09 9:47 PM

wow, really? that's it?

AndroidFanboy @ Oct 26, 09 5:17 PM

Yea but look at this. Droid has the same icons. Nice try the Phonedog.

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/gallery/handsets/motorola-droid/?pid=3579#picture_nav

Debunked.

hockeyfreakb4 @ Oct 26, 09 8:37 PM

i normally agree with noah... but look at the Droid's status bar, it is exactly identical to the "Dragon"

sharpy2534 @ Oct 26, 09 5:11 PM

the desire says 3g and not ev. http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/10/22/verizons-htc-desire-spotted-in-the-wild-lauching-soon/

why would they use the same touch sensitive buttons as moto's sholes. then it would make sense if all of verizons android phones where to be designated as droid and have the same button layout.
it also has some of the same design aspects as the sprints hero (cdma).
its definitely not a revamped desire because its not running sense (because of the white notification bar)and the screen appears to be too big.

so i dont see why the rumors are not true

dannydarko @ Oct 26, 09 5:11 PM

i have to disagree with you Noah. You do make a valid point, but my personal sources say, that it is coming to T-Mobile, by thanksgiving so, we shall wait and see.

YY314KK @ Oct 27, 09 5:59 AM

I believe you meant it's coming to VERIZON.... Correct!

Biggles @ Oct 26, 09 4:44 PM

Nice theory, but totally debunked by leaked shots of the HTC Desire with Verizon logo emblazened across the top. The status bar on THAT CDMA phone looks similar to the GSM phones you provide above. Sorry, Noah. Passion still a strong Verizon possibility.