No surprise with Microsoft calling for December/January release time-frames for WM6.5 updates that there will a ton of announcements in the next few weeks.

Recently we got wind that India's Touch Diamond 2 had been blessed with their official update (available here), which could please a few million users we suppose.

Likewise, Orange has released their WM6.5 upgrade for their Touch Pro 2 (available here).

Finally, Australia's open-channel Touch Pro 2 is also eligible for their WM6.5 upgrade. Open-channel is down-under speak for non-branded versions aka not on Telstra. Get that update here.

While having cooked ROMs is a blast, using official released base ROMs is even better for stability, plus not everyone has time for customs.  So if you're one of the few who needs these (and you do), go get 'em.

[via XDA , WMPoweruser, Windows Mobile for Australia]

Though deviating from HTC's idea of the Diamond 2, Verizon sure has an idea of what its will look like (dubbed "Whitestone"), and it is basically the Touch Pro 2 sans keyboard, which many have been clamoring for. (Others have rightfully noted that's basically the Touch HD.)

We broke the first the image of what this October-destined device will look like for Verizon and now we have some layout diagrams to boot.

Some things to note are the inclusion of the unique "kickstand" and the stylus, which we're surprised is still there. Also is the dedicated "multimedia" button, which along with said kickstand is making this device very media-centric.  And why not with that huge 3.6-inch screen and 5MP camera? Seems spot on. Oh, and how about that 3.5mm jack?

More pics after the break.

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Well look what dropped in our mailbox.  Some images and deets on the upcoming Verizon Diamond 2 (aka 'Whitestone' aka XV6975), the HTC Mega and a bit of an update to the Tachi image.

First up is the Verizon Diamond 2/Whitestone device, picture above. We're hearing a Sept/October release window is the goal for Big Red.  The specs will be as follow:

• WM6.1 (no WM6.5 on launch?)
• Qualcomm 7600 @ 528MHz
• 512MB ROM/256MB RAM
• 3.6-inch WVGA touchscreen
• 5-megapixel autofocus camera/Anti-handshaking
• gpsOne (aGPS and full GPS)
• GSM/CDMA World phone

We have to say that although the body of the Diamond 2 here looks a bit ... different ... those are some killer specs for a non-keyboard device. Kudos to you, Verizon, with this and the Ozone.

Check out the Mega and Tachi after the break ...

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We've mentioned HTC's YouTube Channel before, right? HTC has taken advantage of this video medium by showcasing their phones such as the HTC Snap. Well if you need any help day dreaming about the Touch Diamond 2, just take a gander at the above Product Tour.

The Diamond 2 is available through overseas retailers, but these phones aren't compatible with U.S. 3G networks (they will, however, work on EDGE). With the Diamond 2 manual surfacing and this new video from HTC, the U.S. release can't get here quick enough.

So take this one with a huge grain of salt, though if squint hard enough, it almost makes sense.

Over at phonedog, they got a tip that "...Sprint would be beating T-Mo to the punch by launching US versions of the devices at CTIA in April with May availability dates."

To some that may sound very early, in fact it might even beat T-Mobile in Europe, who are reportedly getting some new HTC love in June.

But we do know that Sprint has given the "end of life" (EOL) tag to the Touch Diamond for July and looking at Sprint's past practices, a device's EOL date is usually around 2 months after the launch of its replacement (e.g. Treo Pro (orig: 2/09)/800w EOL (4/09); Diamond (9/08)/Touch EOL (~11/08); Touch Pro (11/08)/Mogul EOL (~1/09) etc.). Coupled with the fact that Sprint did get the original Touch, Diamond and Touch Pro pretty darn quick and you know, it could be possible.

So perhaps there's some truth to this? Guess we'll find out more from booth N120 as CTIA approaches!