Qwest Wireless rolls out HTC 5800 Fusion smartphone with dual keypad/QWERTY keyboard design

In the wireless market, it’s usually all about being the first one’s out of the gate with a hot new handset. This time, that honor goes to the small-time operation known as Qwest Wireless. In an industry dominated by big-names like AT&T (NYSE: T), Verizon (NYSE: VZ) Wireless, Sprint (NYSE: S), etc., Qwest is definitely an under-dog. But, as the saying goes, “sometimes the underdog wins.” Well, we made that up, but it’s true. The CDMA carrier is the first to carry the HTC 5800 Fusion and actually beat out Big Red in getting this phone to market. With a dual keypad/keyboard design, the HTC Fusion lives up to its namesake.

We all know this little guy as the recently FCC-approved HTC S720 Libra, but, as carriers like to do, it’s been renamed as the HTC Fusion. This time, we actually don’t mind having to remember another  “aka” title for an HTC phone – the “Fusion” moniker is just so apropriate (it fuses a numeric keypad and QWERTY keyboard, get it?). The HTC Libra is the CDMA iteration of the HTC S710 Vox that was announced quite some time ago – although we have yet to hear from a carrier that will offer the phone.

The HTC 5800 Fusion (aka, S720/Libra) packs Windows Mobile 6.0 Standard (sorry guys, you’ll have to sacrifice a touchscreen for that trick keypad/keyboard setup), stereo Bluetooth, microSD card slot, and 2 megapixel camera. And, in case we didn’t hammer this point home already, Qwest Wireless is the first in the US to pick up this device.

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