HTC's sleek HD2 smartphone gets a rollout in Europe and Asia, but consumers here will have to wait until early 2010, the company said.
Taiwanese handset maker HTC announced the
launch of the HD2 smartphone in Europe and Taiwan
and said the device, which boasts a 4.3-inch touch screen, Windows Mobile 6.5
OS and Qualcomm's 1GHz Snapdragon mobile processor, will reach U.S.
shores in early 2010.
HTC, however, did not specify an exact
date or carrier.
The smartphone is available around the middle of November with Taiwan Mobile
and will be available throughout Asia in the coming
month.
The HD2 includes a variety of sensors, including a proximity sensor that is
used to prevent false screen touches when the phone is picked up to answer or
make a call. And a light sensor on the HD2 automatically adjusts the brightness
of the display.
Shipped with 3G broadband connectivity, the HD2 offers Wi-Fi anywhere
for users' computer or other devices. Also available for the smartphone is an
optional car kit that transforms the HD2's user interface into an in-car
navigation system.
"The HD2's amazing customer experience is a testament to the close
partnership between HTC and Microsoft, and
we're excited to be bringing the HD2 to Taiwan
and the United States,"
said HTC CEO
Peter Chou. "The HD2 is the first Windows phone with HTC
Sense, an HTC user experience focused on
making the phone more simple and natural to use and by enabling people to
personalize their mobile experience in their own unique way."
HTC is putting a strong emphasis on the
personal with the HD2; among the device's social networking-oriented features
is a Windows-based version of its Twitter application, HTC
Peep. HTC notes the pictures users take with
the phone's 5-megapixel camera can also be shared via Facebook and Twitter. The
display also provides a single contact view that shows individual communication
snapshots of conversations with contacts regardless of whether a call, text,
Facebook status update or e-mail was used.
"Working with HTC, we've delivered
great phones that help customers connect to the people and information they
care about, wherever they are," said Microsoft CEO
Steve Ballmer. "The HTC HD2 shows
what's possible through our close partnership with HTC
and it breaks new ground for Windows phones by delivering a beautiful multitouch
screen that people will love."
Nathan Eddy is Associate Editor, Midmarket, at eWEEK.com. Before joining eWEEK.com, Nate was a writer with ChannelWeb and he served as an editor at FierceMarkets. He is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
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