HTC launches world’s first tri-band 3G Windows Mobile PDA

Two new phones to launch the new brand

15 June 2006 16:40 GMT / By Stuart Miles

HTC, the company behind the T-Mobile MDA and o2 XDA mobile phones has broken away from its white label models and announced plans that it will offer its phones without operator customisation.

The company started its re-branding efforts with two new phones launched today - the world’s first tri-band 3G Windows Mobile PDA and 3G Smartphone.

The flagship of the two models is the tri-band 3G Windows Mobile Pocket PC [TyTN] while the company hopes to make ground in the business arena with its 3G smartphone called [MTeoR].

"In the past we have been focused on technology and providing operators, but not we have a good platform and the infrastructure its time to go on our own", Dr Florian Sieche Vice President of HTC told Pocket-lint in an interview before the announcement earlier today.

HTC has said that it will continue to support its operator-branded products and OEM partners as a key priority.

The first devices to be offered with HTC brand are the HTC TyTN and the HTC MTeoR. These will be available from late July and available on most networks in the UK.

"We want to be know as a device maker that has smart insides rather than concentrating on the looks", said Dr Sieche.

And that they have the TyTN features Windows Mobile 5.0, Wi-Fi connectivity, 3G and Bluetooth alongside a qwerty keyboard and 2.8-inch touchscreen display.

The new model also includes two digital cameras for video calling with one of them being a 2 megapixel camera with macro mode.

Available in Black & Silver, the TyTN looks like T-Mobile MDA Vario, but features the specs of the operators MDA Pro handset.

Also launched today is the HTC MTeoR, the world’s first 3G Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphone. The slim-line, candy bar device that's design is likely to be associated with the Motorola SLVR is just 112.4 x 49 x 14.8mm and weighs 120g.

The HTC MTeoR features Windows Mobile 5.0 Direct Push technology for immediate synchronization of email, calendar and notes plus document viewers for PDF, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

The phone also sports a large 2.2” TFT LCD screen and built-in 1.3 Megapixel camera.

HTC also mooted that the company would be launching a range of Bluetooth headsets and in car kits later in the year as well as more handsets.