HTC touches 3.5G

Taiwanese handheld giant HTC today unveiled its second Touch smartphone model in the form of the HSDPA-capable Touch Dual.

This Windows Mobile 6 device differs to HTC's original Touch model, released in June, in that it includes two input methods rather than one; in addition to touting a touch-capable screen, it also includes a mini slide-out keypad.

The Touch Dual also improves upon the functionality of HTC's TouchFLO technology, now allowing the user to view photo slideshows using on-screen controls and to zoom and rotate images with only one hand.

Connectivity-wise, the Touch Dual includes support for HSDPA (effectively ‘3.5G') mobile phone networks, which are currently available to end users in the UAE, KSA, Bahrain and Egypt.

"The HTC Touch has not only changed the way people interact with their phone but it has redefined what touch means on a consumer device. HTC is committed to bringing advanced levels of technology to consumers with continuous innovation. The Touch Dual is the next step forward," commented Kevin Chen, HTC's general manager for the Middle East, Africa and CIS.

The Touch Dual will hit stores here at the end of this month, priced approximately $735. In addition, HTC will bring out a new ‘Arctic' themed Touch handset (a re-coloured original version) around the same time, priced $626.