The mfg make their phones, not the carriers. They don't dictate if the phone will have a removeable battery or a Micro SD slot. They decide what their phones will have on them. I am not paying for a phone that doesn't have a micro SD card. I did when I got the Samsung Galaxy tab 10.1 but on my phone.....no.....it has to have it. I love HTC but now will have to give Samsung a try. I just hope the signal works in my home area because have had problems with Samsung in the past not holding signal. I AM DISAPPOINTED IN HTC.