htc

We don't know what to think... Many sources now indicate that we won't see Google Android based handsets till the fourth quarter. However, originally it was implied that the first phones will be available in 2H 2008, but when exactly was not mentioned. Knowing this, all we can say for sure is that the first Android-based HTC smartphones will be available from T-Mobile sometime this year.

Alltel will be upgrading its data network to EVDO Rev. A technology to speed up uploads. The carrier will start with 18 markets, including Charlotte, New Orleans, Phoenix and Tampa, and will be expanding from there further.

Laptop users will be the first to take advantage of the new speeds with Huawei EC228 USB and the UTStarcom UM 150 modems. The company will also allow owners of the HTC PPC6800 and HTC Touch smartphones to upgrade their devices to support EVDO Rev.

Here's a list of prices published by HTC Singapore on some of the company's smartphones in this country.

The prices are indicated in Singapore Dollars (including 7% GST), and will come into effect on June 12, 2008.

• HTC TyTN II S$998;
• HTC Touch Cruise S$968;
• HTC Touch Dual S$848;
• HTC Touch S$588;
• HTC Shift S$2,048;
• HTC P3300 S$588.

HTC has officially announced its Touch Pro (former Raphael) today.

It's a QWERTY slider similar to the Touch Diamond, which will be available in Europe in late summer with the U.S. market to follow up shortly after.
HTC Touch Pro features:

• Quad-band GSM/EDGE/3G 900/2100MHz;
• HSPA with a solid 7.2Mbps;
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth;
• 2.

According to DigiTimes, Hong Kong CSL is about to get the first batch of over 10,000 HTC Touch Diamond smartphones.

Next in line are European / Asia-Pacific operators, which should be receiving the device in June.

But that's all that was mentioned in the report - no info on the availability in the U.S., sorry...

T-Mobile brings new HTC smartphone to Europe under the name "MDA Compact IV".
It has the latest version of HTC's 3D touch interface. Main features are:

• Windows Mobile 6.1;
• HSDPA/HSUPA at speeds of 7.2 Mbps;
• 3.2 Mpix camera with autofocus;
• VGA touch screen;
  
• GPS;
• 4GB of internal memory;
• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.

Previously HTC planned to have 2 millions of Touch Diamond smartphones sold by the end of the year.

But now Chinese "Commercial Times" reports that according to HTC's CEO Peter Chou, the company expects to sell 3 million units in the next 7 months starting June.

Rogers Wireless has launched the HTC Shift in Canada.

This high-end UMPC is availabe for $1,599.99 on a 3-year contract on minimum $50 Flex Rate Data Plan. Here are some of the device's main characteristics:

• 7" "slide-n-tilt" touchscreen;
• 40GB hard drive;
• Wi-Fi;
• Quad-band (850/900/1800/1900Mhz) GSM;
• Tri-band (850/1900/2100Mhz) 3G/HSPA;
• Bluetooth 2.

HTC plans to release a Windows Mobile 6.1 update for its TyTN II smartphone in the near future, but if you can't wait you can get it now from MoDaCo.

There are some insignificant video performance tweaks, apart from the updated system, but nothing revolutionary to mention.

We recommend you to update the device anyway.

HTC presents its latest entry-level smartphone, the P3400i.

It looks slick and stylish, runs on Windows Mobile 6 Professional OS, and features a variety of multimedia apps and services, such as media player, email client, mobile office, and even Windows Live Messenger, all available to the user while on the go.

The device will be available at the end of May for $488.