HTC mobile phone news from Mobile World Congress 2010

We now turn our attention to the announcements at the Mobile World Congress from HTC. HTC have come a long way in the industry from the early days, when they were mainly responsible for supplying network branded Windows Mobile devices, bring the likes of the SPV on Orange, MDA on T-Mobile and XDA on O2 to market. As the popularity of these devices increased, HTC started to release handsets under their own name and are now one of the leading manufacturers of Windows Mobile and Android handsets. Of the three handsets announced, two are running the Android OS and one Windows Mobile, and it is that handset we are going to look at first.

The HTC HD2 has been a popular device for HTC, but it has to be noted that the large size of the device is not to everyone’s liking. Fear not, as HTC has announced the imminent arrival of the HTC HD Mini. Expected in early April, the Mini is an amazingly feature packed device for its size. The HD Mini is an amazing 17mm shorter than its bigger brother, 10mm narrower and a whopping 47g lighter. Despite the compact size the HD Mini delivers a bright HVGA capacitive touchscreen display with multi touch support, measuring in at a healthy 3.2 inches. The handset runs the HTC Sense UI over Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5.3 Professional, offering probably the best UI on a Windows handset. Squeezed into the HD Mini is a 5.0 Megapixel camera, with autofocus, GPS receiver with aGPS support, stereo FM radio and full media player which plays multiple digital formats for audio and video, including DivX. Powered by a Qualcomm 7227 600 MHz processor, the HD Mini has 384 MB RAM, 512 MB ROM, and can handle MicroSD memory cards up to 16GB in size. Data is well supported on the phone, with Bluetooth 2.1 for local connectivity, plus HSPA Mobile Broadband and WiFi for web browsing. All powered from a Li-ion 1200 mAh battery.

The next device will be known as the HTC Legend. The Legend is powered by a Qualcomm MSM 7227 600 MHz processor and has the updated HTC Sense UI overlaying Android OS 2.1. The updates include multi touch support, improved integration for social networks and an option called Leap, which allows you to view all the homescreen panes on one screen, by making a pinching movement on the display. Available in grey or black, the Legend in design is very much like the HTC Hero, even including the little ‘chin’. The handset is made of one piece aluminium, and that offers it a really smart, elegant look. With 384 MB RAM and 512 MB ROM, the Legend supports MicroSD memory cards up to 16GB in size, and includes HSPA, WiFi, GPS and Bluetooth 2.1. Other features include a 5.0 Megapixel camera, Stereo FM radio, full media player and of course there are all the usual Google services available too. The HTC Legend is expected to be available from the end of March/beginning of April.

Lastly, by certainly not the least of our trio, is the HTC Desire. Previously codenamed the Bravo, the HTC Desire is basically a Nexus One, running with the excellent HTC Sense UI. Expected to be available from the end of March, t-Mobile UK have already confirmed that this device will be part of their line up, but we don’t yet have any pricing details. The HTC Desire sports a huge 3.7 inch WVGA AMOLED display, with multi touch support, and instead of a trackball as found on the Nexus One offers an optical trackpad. The Android OS version is 2.1, and the device is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon QSD8250 1GHz processor, with 576 MB RAM and 512 MB ROM. MicroSD memory cards up to 16GB will be supported, offering plenty of storage for media on the phone, for images captured on the 5.0 Megapixel camera, as well as music and video. All the necessary data options are included, with Bluetooth 2.1 plus HSPA Mobile Broadband and WiFi.

An impressive array of smartphones, a line up of products that only further enhances HTC’s standing as a specialist supplier of top end products.