HTC held the first of two product announcements today (the second is tomorrow) and unveiled three new devices. This trio of devices further cements HTC’s position as an innovator, driving forward the development of devices that meet the needs of business and enterprise users. Each new handset showcases a tailored range of capabilities to support different types of users including those focused on cutting edge mobile computing to users that want powerful, feature-rich mobile messaging.
First, the HTC SHift finally gets its formal announcement. The HTC Shift ushers in a new era in mobile computing as one of the first mobile computers globally to offer Microsoft Windows Vista and push email. Combining the power of Windows Vista with always-connected 3G/HSDPA connectivity, the HTC Shift delivers unparalleled functionality in a sleek, compact design. The Shift uses SnapVUE, an always-on mode that provides you instant access to critical information – including e-mail previews, local weather, calendar, and SMS – even if the device is not switched on.
Powered by a 800MHz Intel processor and a 400MHz Qualcomm processor, it comes with quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE and tri-band UMTS/HSDPA connectivity, 1GB RAM for Vista and 64MB and 128MB ROM for SnapVUE, a 7-inch WVGA touchscreen display that slides and tilts out to sit above the QWERTY keyboard, option of 40 or 60GB hard drive, 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0, integrated GPS, a fingerprint sensor, a VGA camera for video conferencing, and an SD card slot.
Battery life for the Shift is rated at up to 2 hours for Vista and up to 53 hours for SnapVUE with push-email enabled.
The HTC S730 (Wings), an enhanced version of the HTC S710, adds 3G/HSDPA and a 400MHz Qualcomm processor. Powered by Windows Mobile 6 Standard, it comes with quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE and single-band HSDPA/UMTS connectivity, 64MB RAM and 256MB ROM, a 2.4-inch QVGA display, a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, a 2MP camera and front-facing VGA camera, and a microSD slot.
The last, the HTC P6500 (codename Sirius) is designed for the enterprise market. Powered by Windows Mobile 6 Professional, it features quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE and tri-band HSDPA connectivity, a 3.5-inch display, 256MB of internal memory, integrated GPS, a 3MP camera with auto focus and barcode and fingerprint scanning capabilities, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0, and two SD card slots
The HTC S730 will be available starting in October while the HTC P6500 and HTC Shift will be available starting in November (the latter only in Europe).