HTC has announced a new version of the Touch. The device, known as the Touch Dual, is a revamped version of the original Windows Mobile 6 Professional device with a sliding keypad in either 13 key standard or 20 key converged keyboard similar to the SureType keyboard on the BlackBerry and other devices. The Touch Dual is the first vertical-sliding PDA from HTC since 2003.
The feature set for the device has also been improved, starting with the inclusion of single-band W-CDMA access with support for UMTS and HSDPA packet data, a revised TouchFLO interface, front facing VGA camera for video calling, QVGA display, Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP stereo audio support, 2.0 megapixel camera with video recorder, and a combined mini-USB/audio output which HTC’s ExtUSB port. In addition, the display has been reduced from 2.8 inches on the original, to a new 2.4 inch QVGA display.
The Touch Dual may also feature GPS support due to the embedded Qualcomm chipset, though it is not known whether HTC has chosen to use A-GPS or use an autonomous module. Support for GPS has not been promised by HTC, and may only be available with support in a future firmware update. The device is expected to go on sale in Europe later this month with the French carrier Orange.
No United States provider has picked up the Touch Dual at this time, it is currently targeted at European markets only. However, with the Touch about to appear as a CDMA variant, the Touch Dual is more likely to appear on an American carrier than the typical HTC offering.
