Android Central Forums member snags HTC Merge early in Alltel retail store

The HTC Merge is still officially only available for pre-order on Alltel. But Android Central Forums member jtowndawg scoped out his local store in Georgia and, sure enough, was able to take one home already. And even better, he's given us a nice little photo gallery of his bounty. And for that, he'll be rewarded.

The HTC Merge, as you undoubtedly remember from our exclusive hands-on way back last fall, and in more recent sit-downs, is a 3.8-inch Android 2.2 phone with an excellent sliding keyboard and 5MP camera that all but disappeared for a few months. And now it's on Alltel, and it's also headed to Cellular South. What we don't know is if it's ever going to see release on Verizon, as it was initially intended. There remain hints to that fact -- some new, some old -- but nothing official.

But if you're on Alltel and are dying for the Merge, it'd behoove you to swing by your local store. Tell 'em Android Central sent ya. And check out more pics of jtowdawg's new Merge in the forums. [HTC Merge in Alltel stores now, HTC Merge forums]

Phil Nickinson