HTC Unveils iPhone Rival
The device, which measures 102 mm by 51 mm by 11.33 mm and weighs in at 110 g, is smaller than the iPhone and will be available in North America later this year and earlier in other parts of the world.
HTC isn't new to the touch screen game. The Touch Diamond is the latest update of HTC's Touch smartphone line, which has sold more than 3 million units worldwide since last June, HTC chief marketing officer John Wang told Reuters.
But it is the updates to operating on the 3G network that will make it a true competitor for Apple's iPhone, which has not yet divulged plans for a 3G model.
According to HTC, the device works on WCDMA networks and with a Qualcomm chipset can hit mobile Internet data rates of up to 7.3 Mbps using HSDPA and HSUPA, upgrades to existing third-generation networks that can boost data transmission speeds.
A statement from HTC said the Touch Diamond features a 2.8-inch VGA touch screen (640 pixels by 480 pixels) and a revamped version of HTC's TouchFLO software that makes images on the screen seem like they're in 3D. The touch screen enables access to photos, music, messages, push email and other features.
Along with updating the device, which uses Microsoft's Windows Mobile 6.1 operating system, the Web browser has been enhanced. Built on an Opera Software engine, the browser lets users zoom and pan into Web sites. Similar to the iPhone, a turn of the device can rotate the Web view.
For more features, the device allows video-calling and features a 3.2 megapixel camera. It uses Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g for wireless Internet access and features Bluetooth access as well. For storage, the Touch Diamond features 4 GB internal, 256 MB flash and 192 MB RAM. Along with all of those features, the Touch Diamond offers GPS, up to 4 hours of talk time and up to 300 hours of standby time, or 100 hours of standby with push email activated.
In a statement, HTC President and CEO Peter Chou said the Touch Diamond will make browsing the Web and using Web-enabled applications on a mobile device as practical and easy as making a phone call.
"Today we mark a new era in mobile phone evolution, an era where beauty and size integrate with uncompromising innovation at broadband speeds," he said.