(Click here for a larger view of O2's XDA Mantle)

HTC's P6500 (Click image for further information)

Said to be "designed for the corporate market," the XDA Mantle clearly resembles the P6500 phone (right) introduced by HTC last year. Its parentage is confirmed by O2's manual, which includes HTC copyright notices and references supplied utilities such as "HTC Fingerprint Manager."

O2 and HTC have created a device that, at 5.4 x 2.87 x 0.8 inches (137.4 x 72.9 x 20.5mm), is larger than many Windows Mobile devices. Apparently intentional, the bulk allows the XDA Mantle to spread its 320 x 240 screen resolution over an easy-on-the-eyes 3.5-inch display. Further, instead of having the typical single microSD slot, the Mantle has room for not one but two slots in the larger SD format (see below).


O2's XDA Mantle has two full-size SD slots
(Click to enlarge)
The XDA Mantle is said to use a 400MHz Qualcomm MSM7200 processor, and includes GPS capabilities. Like the P6500 before it, the device includes 256MB of RAM, and 1GB of flash storage, according to O2.

In addition to 802.11b/g wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0, the Mantle offers tri-band (850, 1900, and 2100MHz) HSDPA/WCDMA and quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, and 1900MHz) connectivity. O2 claims that via HSDPA, the device can download data at up to 3.6Mbps, and upload it at 384Kbps. WCDMA, meanwhile, is said to offer symmetrical 384Kbps connectivity.

The Mantle has a three megapixel camera autofocus camera. A 1500mAh battery is said to provide talk times of up to 464 minutes, and standby times up to 460 hours.

Key specifications of the device, as listed by O2, include:

• Processor -- Qualcomm MSM7200, clocked at 400 MHz
  
• Memory -- 256 MB SDRAM; 1 GB flash
  
• Display:
  • 3.5-inch LCD with touchscreen and backlight
    
  • 240 X 320 pixel resolution with 65,536 colors
• Camera -- 3.0 megapixel
  
• Wireless:
  • WAN:
    • HSDPA/WCDMA -- Tri-band 850/1900/2100 MHz
      
    • GSM/GPRS/EDGE -- Quad-band 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
  • WLAN -- 802.11 b/g
    
  • WPAN -- Bluetooth 2.0
• I/O port -- mini-USB
  
• Audio
  • Built-in speaker and microphone; supports hands-free operation
    
  • Headphone jack
    
  • AMR/AAC/WAV/WMA/MP3 codec
• Expansion -- 2 x SD memory card
  
• Battery type/life:
  • 1500mAH
    
  • Talk time -- 464 minutes for GSM, 284 minutes for WCDMA
    
  • Standby time -- 480 hours for WCDMA, 407 hours for GSM
• Dimensions -- 5.4 x 2.87 x 0.8 inches (137.4 x 72.9 x 20.5mm)

The XDA Mantle is available now, according to O2. Pricing was not disclosed, but more information may be available from the company's website, here.

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