The forthcoming HTC Desire HD and Z handsets are up for pre-order on both Amazon.co.uk and Play.com, with a SIM-free HD priced at £469.99 and Z at £429.99.

Both retailers are citing a shipping date of 11 October, which as always is "subject to change", but seems in line with the mid-October launch that HTC was touting at its London launch event, earlier this week.

T-Mobile announced that that it will officially be carrying the HD handset from launch, and stated that the handset will be available for free on a £40 a month contract. Pricey.

This was surprising, considering that Jon French, executive director at HTC UK, told journalists on Wednesday that it was likely the devices would be free on £35 per month, two-year contracts.

Further tariff details are expected to be released closer to the launch date. All major operators are set to carry the HD, with the exception of O2. While, the Desire Z is expected to be exclusive to Vodafone upon launch.

Meanwhile, accurate pricing of the Samsung Galaxy Tab continues to elude everyone, but it still looks like the tablet will easily cost north of £500.

Expansys is now charging £639.99 and is taking pre-orders for a tentative 2 November shipping date - we'll believe that when it arrives!

However, it's old friend Amazon that has got folks across the UK scratching their heads in disbelief as it displayed a £799.99 RRP price. Of course the canny retailer is selling the shiny toy for £679.99, while alerting everyone to the fact its offering a 15 per cent discount. How kind.

No word from Samsung or networks as to the how much a subsided Tab will cost upfront. But with a launch expected well in time for Christmas it seems that the manufacturer is rather optimistically hoping that consumers will splash the cash like its1999.

Samsung clearly didn't get the memo about the double-dip recession.....

17 Sep 2010