If the claims of a senior Telstra executive pan out, we will indeed see HTC introducing a Palm Pre/iPhone killer in the second quarter of this year. Packed with a large touchscreen that is expected to outclass any screen in HTC’s current handset portfolio, the rumored HTC device will be powered by the customized version of the Android OS that sports HTC-specific enhancements (in the same way that the TouchFLO 3D UI rides on atop the Windows Mobile platform).
Telstra execs, after being briefed on the Palm Pre, stated that the upcoming HTC device would be “better” and “more functional” than the Web OS-powered Palm Pre, adding that they “believe that the new HTC phone will be a real competitor to the iPhone and the Pre which at this stage looks nice but is still not delivered to market”.
The Palm Pre, just days out of the gate, has already gained a strong following among tech pundits and Palm-fans alike. With gesture-based controls, a capacitance touchscreen, and some seriously powerful hardware, the Palm Pre is expected to inaugurate the Web OS with style and substance. Palm is betting the farm on the Palm Pre and Web OS, and there’s little doubt that Palm will be pushing their new platform hard and fast.
We are expecting this rumored Pre-killer from HTC to sport a capacitance touchscreen and an eye-catching Android homescreen modified by HTC.
Interestingly, HTC’s HTC Touch HD never made it Stateside with its huge touchscreen display. Could HTC have been holding off on introducing a large-screened smartphone to the US market in anticipation of this larger-screened Android smartphone coming down the pipeline? Even more interesting is the prospect that this upcoming iPhone killer may have already been leaked as part of HTC’s 2009 lineup. This rumored handset might just be the HTC Sapphire 2.0 that we speculated could become the T-Mobile G2 Android phone.
[Via: SmartHouse]