The new Touch cell phone by HTC is definite iPhone competition with it's touch screen. I'll review why I like the "Touch" so much and what kind of features you can expect for your money.
Awhile back I got asked what my favorite cell phone was, and I got to thinking about it because mine was a little outdated and I knew that there were more features now available in a modern cell phone. Newer digital technology has led to the convergence of devices into one handheld gadget that can be your Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), your digital portable music or MP3 player, your cell phone, and even your personal video player. I went back and thought about my original criteria for buying a cell phone a few years back, which has been of course updated over time now that new technology is available today:
HTC Phones Verizon Review
Cell Phone Purchase Check List
So - it was off to do some research. I looked for many hours at PDA's, flip phones, walkie-talkie phones, sliders, and more...and the "Touch" cell phone by "HTC" was the one that caught my eye. It fit my purchase check list perfectly, it's getting great reviews across the web, it's easy to hold and doesn't have a bunch of external buttons to fool with either.
Here are the finer points of this phone:
TouchFLO technology: In layman's terms "it works like an iPhone" (at half the price). You can use a stylus, but your fingers are just as good because you can use it just like an iPhone or iTouch.
Windows Mobile 6: You can sync your Outlook, calendar, and contacts with your PC using "ActiveSync" software.
2 Megapixel Camera: Take better quality pictures up to 1200x800 pixels in size - good enough to print or use for desktop backgrounds.
MicroSD memory card slot: will take up to 4GB microSD cards meaning you can store up to 450+ songs in your cell phone.
Stereo Bluetooth: Use your phone as a high quality mp3 player with stereo bluetooth built-in.
Phone as Modem: Browse the web on your laptop through the phone.
4 hours talk time: Pretty darn good for a touch phone.
Rubberized case: Easy to palm and hold, comfortable for long periods of time.
This phone is a definite step up in technology at an affordable price. You can buy one with a contract under 0, and the phone is called the "touch" because of it's touch screen (much like the iPhone and iTouch). With Windows Mobile 6 this phone easily syncs with your Windows based Outlook email and contacts. The stereo bluetooth capabilities give you not only the ability to use this phone as a quality mp3 player, but it also has the abiltiy to "stream" music from the phone and Internet radio stations to your stereo headset. The screen is comparable to a video iPod, coupled withe the SD memory card slot and ability to use removable media up to 4GB - you can easily watch portable videos on the go without the need for an additional device. Check your email on the go, use the web while away, this devide even has the ability to connect via wifi hot-spots!
You can use this phone on Sprint, Alltel, Verizon, AT&T (Cingular) - so nearly all the major carriers have it now. You can even find it on eBay - you might even get a deal. The advantage of buying on eBay is if you pay the price there you won't have to buy into a contract. But if you get it from one of the carriers (Sprint, etc.) you'll get it cheaper (usually) - but have to sign up for probably a 2 year contract. You might get lucky and get some kind of mail-in rebate as well.
I think that more and more new cell phones will work as an integrated device like the touch (cell phone, PDA, mp3 player, and web on the go) - and the prices are just going to get better each and every day. If you're looking for a new or replacement phone - the Touch HTC is a perfect choice!
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