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HTC 6800 First Smartphone with Windows Mobile 6 Pro |
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Although High Tech Computer Corp. (HTC) has been designing and building smartphones for international companies for the past decade, the company has only just introduced its own HTC-branded smartphones to the Canadian market. The first models, the P4000 and S720, were made available in Canada in March through Telus Mobility. The firm’s latest model, introduced today through Bell Mobility, marks the first smartphone to feature Microsoft’s new Windows Mobile 6 Professional software.
Windows Mobile 6 lets the user essentially carry a PC in his pocket, permitting access to things like Microsoft Office Outlook, Windows Internet Explorer, and Office Mobile, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. Customers can also access Windows Live for instant messaging, or customize the device with aftermarket applications from Microsoft, or available third-parties.
In a one-on-one briefing, Alec Taylor, Director, Microsoft Communications Business, Microsoft Canada Co. , demonstrated some of the improvements of Windows Mobile 6 in comparison to Windows Mobile 5. Searching through contacts, for example, has become much more seamless: customers can now search by the contact’s name or by the phone number. Once located, all of the relevant contact details pop up, including phone number, e-mail address, and even instant messaging address, allowing you to quickly and easily send a message using the method of choice. As a great feature for sales professionals, the entire call history for each contact can be viewed, including the date of the last time the person was contacted, and even the call duration.
“Set-up is much quicker as well,” noted Taylor. “It takes five-minutes to set-up an e-mail account; then two-to-three minutes for Windows Live and Hotmail. It’s also easier to download applications.” Taylor demonstrated this by downloading a third-party weather update application, which then appeared in the program list of the device menu. The entire process was mere minutes.
As the first Windows Mobile 6 device to be available, the HTC 6800 employs a slider design: turn it horizontally, and slide the face up to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard. Using the versatile device, customers can do things like surf the Web, check e-mails, view and edit documents, and of course, make and receive phone calls while on-the-go. It’s equipped with an ample 2.8-inch wide touch-screen display that shows a full dashboard upon start-up, outlining information like new e-mail messages, calendar and note items. Navigation is done via the buttons on the face, or by using the included stylus.
Additionally, the 6800 has a 2 MP digital camera/camcorder; MP3 player; and a microSD card slot for storage. It has integrated Bluetooth 2.0, but is also WiFi-capable, allowing customers to log on to WiFi hotspots across Canada. For music, the interface mirrors that which you’d see with Windows Media Player on a full-sized PC, with full play/pause, fast forward/rewind buttons on-screen, and album covers where available. For private listening, the device comes with a doo-hickey that’s inserted into the charging port at the bottom, and allows one to connect either mini USB or standard 3.5 mm jack headphones.
“Our studies show that business users spend 50 per cent of their time on these devices doing personal things, like e-mailing and IM,” Taylor noted. Given this, access to "fun" features, like IM, music, and web browsing, is just as important as business-oriented applications like Office Mobile and Outlook.
At its price, the HTC 6800 might appeal to "regular" consumers just as much as business clientele: it is available exclusively in Canada from Bell Mobility for as low as $199.95 on a three-year agreement. Taylor says additional Windows Mobile 6 devices are set to launch in the Fall; and the software will also be available for download online as a free upgrade.
For more information, visit www.bell.ca/wireless or www.htc.com.
Submitted Date: Jul 20, 2007
Source: Marketnews.ca
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