HTC Touch

One of the challenges faced by Windows Mobile 6 manufacturers (in particular, HTC, that dominates the market) is enhancing the user interface and increasing screen size--two key features that have made the iPhone popular.

The HTC Touch for Sprint does both and more. It gives users easy access to most smartphone functions by touching, tapping or swiping your finger on the TouchFlow screen. For example, one touch of your finger gets you to your email, check the weather, see what Mobile 6 apps are running, then select them and more. Because most of the Touch's real estate is the screen, like the iPhone, users have greater Web page and program visibility. This differs from Samsung's Blackjack and other mobile phones with a keypad. (Half of the phone is taken up with keys.)

That, naturally, is the biggest challenge today in mobile devices. Most manufacturers are integrating touch screen technology in their phones to compete with Apple. This challenges users to move from keypads to touch, difficult because most users still prefer controlling their mobile phones with keyboards. This accounts, in part, for Nokia's 40% share of the smartphone market and RIM's dominance with its BlackBerry's for email. I've yet to test a mobile device using pop-up QWERTY screen keyboards that beats physical keyboards. However, the Touch, offering several touch interfaces, plus handwriting recognition, comes close. Zoomboard, working only in portrait mode now, is an inexpensive software program providing a larger keypad, not as large as the iPhone's but useful.

Like the iPhone, the Touch let's you swipe your finger across and up-and-down on the screen, giving you immediate access to Sprint TV, On Demand, a handy information resource for news, weather, sports and other content. When updating content on the Touch, Sprint's EVDO network downloads info quickly, while the iPhone sucks air on AT&T's EDGE network.

HTC added voice control to the Touch, making it stand out head-over-heels against the competition. By holding down the camera key for a few seconds, users can place phone calls and open virtually any application within Windows Mobile 6. Using voice, you are only one step away from controlling bluetooth, accessing your calendar, to do list and notes or running other programs.

Add full synchronization with Microsoft Office, including Outlook, a decent 2mp camera with zoom and other controls, streaming video and a decent music player--and you're using a state-of-the-art Windows Mobile 6 touch screen device. When I reviewed phones on MarketingBeyond, my blog focusing on mobile technology, I rated the HTC Touch as the best example of an Google Android-enabled phone.

For Mac users, you're in luck. A company called Mark/Space sells a program called The Missing Sync. You can sync iCal, Address Book, Contacts and more on your Mac, using either a USB or Bluetooth connection, although Bluetooth synching didn't work when I tested the software.

Finally, one of the tests I always apply to a mobile phone is how it feels in your hand. The Touch is a half-inch shorter than the iPhone, but has a rubberized backing making it easy to hold. The iPhone is all metal, clumsy to hold and easily dropped.

2008 is going to be an important year for mobile phone development. The Open Handset Alliance and third-party programmers are hard at work, producing an explosion of innovative, functional--and fun--devices and applications. Until then, the HTC Touch is worth a look.