All four of the major U.S. carriers introduced new handsets last week: Sprint launched the HTC Touch, AT&T debuted the BlackBerry Curve with GPS, Verizon Wireless premiered Samsung's Juke and T-Mobile USA unveiled its new Sidekick LX. Here's a round-up:
Sprint's HTC Touch: As expected, Sprint debuted the HTC Touch just a few days after it launched the Palm Centro. The Touch is so named for its 2.8" QVGA touchscreen that is meant to be used sans stylus--it operates on Windows Mobile 6, and will support Sprint's multimedia content including over-the-air music downloads and live TV. Other features include a microSD slot that supports cards up to 4GB, a 2-megapixel camera and voice-activated dialing. Photo
AT&T's BlackBerry Curve 8310 with GPS: This Research In Motion-produced device features a 320 by 240 pixel display supporting 65K colors, measures 4.2 by 2.4 by 0.6 inches and weighs about 3.9 oz. In addition to signature BlackBerry features like email and messaging, it includes a 2-megapixel camera, media player, 3.5mm stereo headset jack, microSD slot and Bluetooth 2.0 support. Photo
Verizon Wireless' Samsung Juke: This music-centric phone boasts an interesting form factor: the phone swivels 180 degrees to reveal the keypad. The Juke supports .MP3, .WMA, and unprotected .AAC music files, and the music player can be accessed without opening the phone. It also features a VGA-resolution camera and GPS features tied to Verizon's VZ Navigator and Chaperone services. One caveat: No 3G connectivity. Photo
T-Mobile's Sidekick LX: Since the original Sidekick, T-Mobile USA has courted celebrities to promote its messaging device. The launch party for the LX was no different--according to reports, the new model is the first to allow photos within text messages. Also of note: A wide QVGA display--reportedly incorporating technology borrowed from Sharp's AQUOS televisions--along with configurable mood lighting and a 1.3 megapixel camera with flash. The phone drops October 24. Photo | Release
For more on the handset launches:
- check out this photo gallery