Review has been posted here:
 
http://linuxslate.com/Review_Xiaomi_Qin_2_Phone.html
 
Check back for more comments in this thread.
 

Note: This message has been updated.
 
I can now verify that this phone supports HSDPA on AT&T in the USA.
 
I got a "Free" service through http://freedompop.com .  So the "Free" service cost me $4.99 for a SIM card at Target, and a $0.99 setup fee, but as long as you are careful about what you click when you set it up, you get 200 minutes, 500 text messages and 200.00 MB of mobile data free per month for no additional or monthly cost.
 
Obviously, they try to get you to upgrade, and to buy phones, etc., but for testing, or any low-use situation, it really is a free (monthly) legitimate phone service. data only service.
 
When I inserted the SIM, and completed the very simple registration, The service worked immediately.
 
Service is actually through AT&T's network, and as soon as I activated the account, it showed an "H" in the signal bars. AT&T signal has always been "spotty" (to put it as generously as I can) here at the house, so we'll have to see how it works out in the "real world".
 
EDIT:  FreedomPop is not a true mobile phone service.  It is a data-only plan.  They then provide a VoIP voice and text (really IM) service on top of that.
 
Without Google Play Services, installing their VoIP app from the Play Store obviously won't work.  I was able to install it from APKMirror, but it seems it still relies on Google Services.  It gets stuck at "Registering for Push Notifications".
 
In other words, FreedomPoP does not work with the native Phone or Messages app, nor the FreedomPoP for calls and SMS (text) on this phone.
 
Further more, when I posted on FreedomPoP's community support boards, they did not even seem to understand the concept of an Android phone without Google Play Services.
 
I've been using MizuDroid (also installed from APKMirror) to use my Callcentric VoIP account over WiFi.  With FreedomPop, I can register on Callcentric and make or receive calls (including "real" mobile or fixed numbers) using the FreedomPop data service.  This allows Callcentric VoIP calls from anyplace there is FreedomPoP/AT&T service.  IM messages sent from MizuDroid are not translated into SMS messages, so IM's can only be sent to other VoIP services, not regular mobile phone numbers.
 
So, in summary, the FreedomPoP service worked to verify connectivity on AT&T's network, and that is worth the ~$6 that I paid.  Combined with my (non -free) Callcentric VoIP service, I can use it for calls almost like a regular cellular/mobile voice service.  I have not found a working solution for SMS/Text.