Fresh off several hot smartphone releases, device maker HTC on Tuesday unveiled the HTC Fuze, a touch-screen handheld that takes cues from the T-Mobile G1, without the Google Android guts.
The Fuze, an AT&T exclusive in the U.S., takes what made the G1, also made by HTC, a swift seller and ups the ante with a host of new features and functions.
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| HTC Fuze |
Like the G1, the Fuze features a fill slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Where it differs is the touchscreen, which ties in HTC's own TouchFLO 3D user interface for one-touch access.
The smartphone, which runs on AT&T's 3G BroadbandConnect network, is designed specifically for one-hand operation, using gesture-based navigation, meaning users can touch, hold and slide along the screen tabs. For example, a slide on the home screen activates the most used features like e-mail, text messaging, music player and camera. The 3-D touchscreen interface extends to the Opera Web browser, where users can zoom in or out to ease navigation.
Another striking difference between the Fuze and the G1 is the Fuze's operating system -- Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, which offers integration with Microsoft Outlook e-mail, contacts, calendar and to-do lists. Windows Mobile also lets users access and edit e-mail attachments using mobile versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, OneNote and PowerPoint. Additionally, the Fuze supports industry-specific applications and Microsoft System Center Mobile Device manager, a mobile device management solution that also provides security, mobile VPN and software distribution for Windows Mobile devices.
The HTC Fuze also enables access to personal e-mail accounts, using AT&T's Xpress Mail service, and later this year the device will also tie in Good Mobile Messaging and BlackBerry Connect compatibility. It wraps in a unique business card application that lets users capture and save contact information using the built-in 3.2 megapixel camera.
The Fuze features AT&T Video Share to let users share video.
The device features a smooth, glossy black finish and a faceted backplate. It hosts a 262,000-color, 2.8-inch, 480-by-640 VGA touchscreen for touch-sensitive navigation control, with three-dimensional animated transitions.
On the connectivity side, the HTC Fuze can connect to voice and data via AT&T's 3G network, and also features built-in GPS, Wi-Fi access and Bluetooth 2.0. It also has a push-to-talk feature for instant communication.
On the multimedia side, users can access AT&T Mobile Music services, which includes access to content from eMusic, XM Radio Mobile and others. It also offers access to video clips like news, sports, weather, entertainment, HBO mobile and more via streaming video. For full-length streaming video, users can access MobiTV.
The HTC Fuze is available now starting at $299.99 with a contract at AT&T stores. Voice plans start at $39.99 per month with monthly enterprise data plans starting at $45 and personal data plans starting at $30.
The G1 aside, the Fuze follows a pair of successful touchscreen releases from HTC, namely the HTC Touch Diamond and the HTC Touch Pro. Its release further entrenches HTC in the battle of the touchscreen titans, an area dominated by the Apple iPhone 3G. The Fuze also hits the market in time for it to go head-to-head against the soon-to-be-released BlackBerry Storm, the first touchscreen smartphone from BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIM) Ltd.
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