| HTC unlocks Windows candybar phone |
Jan. 06, 2009
 HTC has announced a candybar-style Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard phone aimed at U.S. consumers. To be available over the counter without carrier subsidies, the "S743" has a 2.6-inch QVGA display, a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, a 3.2 megapixel camera, GPS, an FM receiver, and WiFi, says HTC.
(Click here for a larger view of HTC's S743)
The S743, said to be on display at this week's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, represents more of a marketing innovation than a technical one. The device is an Americanized version of the S740 that HTC announced for European customers last year, but will be now offered in an unlocked, carrier-independent form via retailers in the U.S., according to the company.
Compared to the S740, the S743 has been modified slightly so that it can support U.S. 3G standards. The phone can download data at up to 7.2Mbps via HSDPA (high speed downlink packet access) networks, using 850MHz or 1900MHz frequencies, says HTC.
Like its Euro cousin, the S743 uses a case design reminiscent of HTC's flagship Touch Pro and Touch Diamond. But, unlike those phones, it comes neither with a touchscreen, nor with the "TouchFLO 3D" interface HTC has touted as a "great leap forward."
Instead, the S743 offers a 12-key keyboard, a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, plus a 2.4-inch 320 x 240 display that switches to landscape mode automatically when the QWERTY keyboard is extended, says HTC. The Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard user interface sports darker colors than usual, but HTC released no details of any further software customizations.
The phone is powered by a Qualcomm MSM7725 processor clocked at 524MHz. The S743 comes with 256MB of RAM, 256MB of flash storage, and a microSD slot for memory expansion.
Offering a 3.2-megapixel camera with a second VGA camera for video calling -- ironically rarely offered by U.S. carriers -- the S743 also has an FM receiver. Other wireless capabilities include GPS, WiFi, and Bluetooth 2.0.
The respectably compact phone measures 4.6 x 1.7 x 0.64 inches, and weighs 4.9 ounces including battery. While the S740 was said to provide up to six hours of talk time, HTC did not provide the corresponding specification for the S743.
Jason Mackenzie, vice president of HTC America, said, "While others are content focusing on a single design or user interface, HTC is dedicated to bringing the benefits of mobile convergence to all consumers. The S743 is a great example of HTC's rejection of a 'one-size-fits-all' philosophy."
Features and specifications listed by HTC for the S743 include:- Processor -- Qualcomm MSM7725, clocked at 524MHz
- Memory -- 256MB of RAM and 256MB of flash
- Display -- 2.4-inch display with 320 x 240 resolution
- Keys -- 11-key numeric keypad and slide-out QWERTY keyboard
- Wireless:
- WAN -- Quad-band (850, 900, 1800, 1900MHz) and dual-band (850/1900MHz) UMTS
- WLAN -- WiFi
- PAN -- Bluetooth 2.0
- FM radio
- Other I/O -- ExtUSB port (combination of mini-USB port and proprietary audio jack)
- Expansion -- microSD slot
- Battery type/life:
- 1000mAh battery
- Talk time -- n/s
- Standby time -- n/s
- Dimensions -- 4.6 x 1.7 x 0.64 inches
- Weight -- 4.9 ounces
According to HTC, the S743 will be available during the first quarter of 2009 from nationwide retailers, including Best Buy, CDW, and Dell. Pricing was not released, however.
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