HTC means business, unveils HTC Snap and “Inner Circle”
Fresh from CTIA day 1 in Las Vegas, HTC is about to unveil its latest Windows Mobile handset that sets its sites on the likes of BlackBerrys and the Nokia E71. Slim and sleek, the HTC Snap sports a sexy 12mm-thick case and a smooth QWERTY keyboard. At first glance the Snap may seem a bit behind the times as far as specs go — the 2 megapixel camera is pretty underwhelming and Windows Mobile 6.1 standard is soooo 2008, but let’s put things in perspective. Consider the handset’s competition: The BlackBerry Bold has a 2 megapixel camera and the Nokia E71 has a slightly beefier 3.2 megapixel shooter, though we’ve seen sun prints that come out clearer than E71 pictures. Beyond that, neither handset wields what we would call an up-to-date OS. Instead, they rely on tried and true platforms known for stability and functionality over sex appeal and zip — just like Windows Mobile 6.1.
The HTC Snap is a messaging handset for people whose first priority in terms of handsets is communications. In that vein, the Snap will be HTC’s first handset to feature its new “Inner Circle” email prioritization system. It’s pretty clever, actually — Inner Circle allows users to define a group of high priority contacts. When inboxes start to get a bit out of control, a simple tap on the dedicated Inner Circle button will automatically place any emails from high priority contacts at the top of the inbox. Simple yet pretty smart, we’d say. Add to that the fact that email/PIM is without question one of Windows Mobile’s strong points and you’ve got yourself one hell of a work horse. As far as the US is concerned, expect an unlocked version dubbed the HTC S522 (with AT&T-compatible 3G) to drop this Summer. Hit the jump for the full specs, a bunch of additional images and the full release.
- Qualcomm MSM 7225 processor, 528 MHz
- Windows Mobile® 6.1 Standard OS
- QWERTY keypad with dedicated messaging, email and Inner Circle hotkeys
- 256MB ROM, 192MB RAM
- microSDHC support
- Dimensions: 4.59″ x 2.42″ x .47″ (LxWxT)
- Weight: 4.23 ounces (with battery)
- Display: 2.4″ (diagonal) QVGA (320×240)
- 1500 mAh battery
- HSDPA/WCDMA 900/2100 MHz or HSDPA/WCDMA 850/1900 MHz (HTC S522)
- Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR
- Wi-Fi (b/g)
- GPS/aGPS
HTC Snap™ makes staying in touch with more people less complicated
HTC’s newest QWERTY smartphone features “Inner Circle” to automatically prioritize email from life’s most important people
LAS VEGAS – April 1, 2009 – HTC Corporation today debuted its newest QWERTY smartphone, the HTC Snap™. Designed with a set of features selected to deliver everything customers need without overwhelming them with things they don’t, the HTC Snap makes it easier than ever to stay in contact with life’s most important people.
A recent study conducted by Harris Interactive® and commissioned by HTC* found that 44% of US adults are often overwhelmed by the amount of email they receive, and over half (55%) of US adults prioritize five or fewer people with whom they communicate via email. In response to these issues, HTC’s innovative Inner Circle feature allows HTC Snap users to press a dedicated Inner Circle key to bring emails from a preselected group of people to the top of their inbox, enabling important messages to be acted upon immediately.
“Recognizing that people are being overwhelmed by an avalanche of email, the HTC Snap introduces Inner Circle, an HTC innovation that makes it easy for people to prioritize messages from the most important people in their lives at the press of a button,” said John Wang, Chief Marketing Officer, HTC Corporation. “The HTC Snap represents the latest step in HTC’s mission to create a range of innovative smartphones, each with specific benefits designed to both surprise and delight our customers.”
With a slim, sleek profile designed to fit perfectly in the hand, the HTC Snap measures less than a half-inch thick (12 mm), yet it can deliver up to eight and a half hours of talk time with the standard 1500mAh battery. The full QWERTY keyboard is ergonomically designed with extra-large domed keys and responsive tactile feedback to make typing emails and text messages fast, accurate and comfortable. High-speed 3G HSPA connectivity makes it quick and easy to send pictures to friends, access favorite social networking sites, or download large files while on the go.
The HTC Snap is powerful enough for experienced business users looking for an affordable, straightforward choice for remotely synchronizing email, calendar and contacts with their Microsoft Exchange server. However, the flexible Microsoft Windows Mobile® 6.1 Standard platform allows the HTC Snap to also be simple enough for first-time smartphone users wanting to keep their family life organized.
The HTC Snap is expected to be available in select channels during the second quarter of 2009, rolling out in markets around the world throughout the second half of the year. Additionally, an unlocked version supporting HSDPA at 850/1900MHz for the US market will be made available under the name HTC S522 during the summer.
RIP Dash
it’s no more…
Hello Bold!
APRIL, PPL
The slowly dying WinMo owes its current existence to HTC. Rather than following the retreaded designs of the past like Sammy and LG have done, HTC seems to always be able to 1-Up where the hardware design is concern.
Even where all the lipstick-on-a-pig effort that HTC places into glossing up the WM UI, they lead the pack by a wide margin. If only they would place as much priority on Android, the market would be a much more interesting place. WM6.1? Not so much and 7 doesn’t exactly break any molds either.
BGR even with its own iphone app is still WAY less biased than other sites!
you get cool points from this winmo fanboy
These photos look like major mock-ups.
Gotta say I like the inner circle feature. It’s cute.
The screen res turns me off, as far as hardware specs and design go I’d take the Blackberry Bold over this ANY day or the week.
screen res? wtf dude. looks like a great bb competitor. Rim better start stepping up their game…
@JakeyBoy
Ah yeah screen res, the Snap is QVGA (320×240) vs the Bold’s Half VGA (480×320)…that’s a huge difference…to ME there is no comparison.
Well, first off, I think it’s a very attractive phone.
I don’t think this phone signals the message to RIM that they need to “start stepping up their game…” Uh, not as a result of this device.
I have the Bold. Love it. I wish it were just a LITTLE slimmer, but otherwise I love it. Wish Niagara was coming to ATT.
Would love to see how the keyboard on this feels.
One last thing. Why release a “revolutionary phone” with only 2 megapixels? I just don’t get it.
Very Truly Yours,
Conrad P. Hernandez, Esq.
I must agree with Neil, I think not having a VGA screen is a deal breaker for me. I know the device has WinMO Standard, but still it would be nice to view web pages and media things on a VGA screen…..
Nice phone. If I every leave RIM, I’m sure my new device will be some type of HTC WM device. They always do a bang up job.
@Neil
At the expense of what, extra 3mm thinkness and 0.6oz weight in the Bold?
No thanks, I have got to hand it to HTC they are the only reason windows mobile still exists or is at least semi-relevant right now.
is it just me or do all htc devices look gimmicky and cheap?
ok ok, i get it. they could have at least matched the res. good start to a wanna be bb though…
I like the look. Lose the brown shading, replace it with a light gray, and it’d be pretty nice.
So, no AWS 3G? Surprise.
Zack – Winmo is known for ” stability “? Man… I still have soft reset my touch pro at least daily…..
Alex:
Samsung is about to buy T-Mobile USA
if not, why samshit is here and there?!
Not a bad looking phone.Looks like a blackberry bold though
Is this an April Fools joke, because that thing looks like rip-off of a Blackberry posing as a Dash!
@Mike
“At the expense of what, extra 3mm thinkness and 0.6oz weight in the Bold?”
Hahaha….man the seriousness of how you said that made my day.
I was so hoping to replace my Dash with this. What is TMO thinking?
The specs and design look a lot like the Treo Pro, also made by HTC. I own a TP, so I’m not complaining!
Oh Snap!