Today, HTC has officially announced the long-rumored, long-postponed HTC Merge. You may or may not remember that this phone sports a 3.8″ screen, slide out, physical QWERTY keyboard, HTC Sense, Android 2.2 Froyo, 3G/WiFi/Bluetooth, and 5MP camera with 720p HD recording. Another thing to note is that it will be HTC’s first world CDMA Android phone. It will be available starting in the spring, but no definite dates have been released, on multiple carriers, though, the carriers have not been announced either.
But with the influx of phones with “4G,” front facing cameras, and dual-core processors coming out, is anyone really going to be looking at this phone considering it doesn’t even have a 1GHz processor? Personally, I think not, but it could provide some competition among the carriers that don’t carry many, if any, Android powered phones with a physical QWERTY.
As always, post your thoughts and comments below.
Introduces the Powerful, Feature-Rich HTC MergeThe HTC Mergeâ„¢ Smartphone Brings Androidâ„¢ and HTC Senseâ„¢ to HTC’s First CDMA Android World Phone
BELLEVUE, Wash., Feb. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — HTC Corp., a global designer of smartphones, today announced that the new HTC Merge smartphone will be made available through multiple North American carriers beginning in spring 2011. The HTC Merge smartphone combines a full QWERTY slide-out keyboard with the power of Android 2.2, the HTC Sense experience, a large 3.8-inch touch-screen display and a 5 megapixel camera to create a complete mobile experience for those looking for a truly complete smartphone. The HTC Merge is also HTC’s first Android-based CDMA world phone.
“HTC prides itself on creating unique solutions that meet the needs of different customers, and with features like a full keyboard and global 3G roaming, the HTC Merge smartphone is the perfect example of this commitment,” said Jason Mackenzie, president, HTC Americas. “Combining the functionality of Android with the HTC Sense experience, the HTC Merge is the perfect device for those customers who are looking for a reliable mobile experience with the features and functionality of a smartphone, whether it’s at home or travelling around the world.”
Customers will appreciate seamless integration with Exchange ActiveSync, enjoy quick and easy access to Flickr® for sharing and viewing pictures, and find new ways to customize their experience with the Android Marketâ„¢ with more than 100,000 applications. With a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, customers will be able to keep in touch with friends and family no matter where they are, as well as stay in the loop with Flickr, Facebook® and Twitterâ„¢ updates through HTC FriendStreamâ„¢.
In addition, the HTC Merge smartphone has a 5 megapixel camera with auto-focus and flash that captures outstanding images, while 3G connectivity makes sharing those special moments with friends and family quick and easy. The HTC Merge smartphone also comes with integrated GPS, Wi-Fi connectivity and even the ability to capture high-definition 720p video.
Availability
HTC Merge is slated to be available from multiple North American operators beginning in spring 2011.