HTC has teamed up with India’s largest telecom network, Bharti Airtel, to release an EDGE only version of the Touch Diamond. With a mid-June release date, the price will be no more than Rs. 27,500 ($640). Wow, an EDGE only version? Now why would anybody want to do that? Wouldn’t it be a better idea to let 3G be and use an EDGE connection? Here’s the lame official reason:

Since India has not yet started to implement 3G services, HTC is offering an EDGE-version of the Touch Diamond to Bharti Airtel, HTC said.

And if 3G does make some headway in India in the near future, the only option left for Diamond lovers is to buy the 3G edition at the same/higher price the non-3G version begs. Great way to cripple a great device, if you ask me.

Via