| 3.5G phone boasts touch, slide-out keyboard |
Oct. 02, 2007
 Taiwanese device-maker HTC has finally introduced a much-rumored handset that combines the company's distinctive touchscreen interface with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. The "Touch Dual" runs Windows Mobile 6 Professional, and boasts 3.5G wireless technology claimed to transfer data up to 9 times as fast as 3G.
HTC's Touch Dual
(Click to enlarge) |
The Touch Dual has been eyed for months by bloggers because, keyboard aside, it is the second device to use HTC's self-developed "TouchFLO" user interface (UI). When HTC first released TouchFLO in June on the HTC Touch, the company described it as enabling users to "sweep their finger up the display to launch an animated, three-dimensional interface comprising three screens: Contacts, Media, and Applications."
"The interface can be spun by swiping a finger right or left across the display, providing efficient access to the features consumers use most," adds the company. It's also said to be capable of distinguishing between finger and stylus input, and responding accordingly.
HTC, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last month, teased its growing cadre of enthusiasts over the summer by showing -- but never officially announcing -- a phone called the P5500 (aka "Nike"). This superseded device promised the same functionality as the Touch Dual, but had subtly different styling.
Adding to the fun, NTT DoCoMo launched its HTC-manufactured HT1100 last month. The HT1100 appears identical to the Touch Dual, with the same set of specifications, except that it is equipped to operate on NTT DoCoMo's 3G FOMA (Freedom of Multimedia Access) network.
By whatever name, the Touch Dual provides the smartphone capabilities of Microsoft's Windows Mobile 6 Professional software platform, including Windows Media Player 10 plus mobile editions of Outlook, Internet Explorer, and Office. The device also offers dual cameras -- a 2 megapixel camera for photos, and a front-facing CIF (352 x 288 pixel) camera for videoconferencing.
Wireless features include support for European HSDPA/UMTS (2100 MHz) and GSM/GPRS/EDGE (900, 1800, and 1900 MHz), along with Bluetooth 2.0. High speed data downloads are rated at 3.6 Mbps for HSDPA, and 384 Kbps for UMTS downloads; upload rates for both systems are 384 Kbps.
HTC's Touch Dual with keyboard extended
(Click to enlarge)
The device's keyboard comes in two different versions -- either a 20-key QWERTY layout, or a 16-key keypad layout -- depending on model.
Touted features and specifications listed by HTC for the Touch Dual include:- Processor -- Qualcomm MSM7200, clocked at 400 MHz
- Memory -- 128 MB DRAM; 256 MB flash
- Display -- 2.6 inch touchscreen display with LED backlighting
- Keyboard -- 20-key keyboard or 16-key keypad for single-handed typing
- Wireless interfaces:
- WAN:
- HSDPA/UMTS, 2100 MHz
- GSM/GPRS/EDGE, tri-band 900/1800/1900 MHz
- WPAN -- Bluetooth 2.0
- Cameras:
- main camera -- 2 megapixel resolution
- secondary camera -- CIF (352 x 288 pixel) resolution for videoconferencing
- Audio:
- Built-in microphone and speaker
- Ring tone supported formats:
- MP3, AAC, AAC+, WMA, WAV, and AMR-NB
- 40-voice polyphonic and standard MIDI format
- Other I/O:
- HTC ExtUSB (11-pin mini-USB and audio jack in one)
- high-speed USB 2.0
- HTC H2Wire support
- Battery:
- type -- 1,120 mAh rechargeable Li-polymer battery
- standby time:
- up to 250 hours for UMTS
- up to 180 hours for GSM
- talk time:
- up to 3 hours for UMTS
- up to 5 hours for GSM
- Dimensions -- 4.2 x 2.2 x 0.6 inches (107 x 55 x 16.5 mm)
- Weight -- 4.2 ounces (120 grams)
The HTC Touch Dual appears to be available now. Pricing was not disclosed.
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