HTC unveils new productivity features – Straight Talk and Push Internet

HTC took the Mobile World Congress by storm today with their announcement of the HTC Touch Diamond 2 and HTC Touch Pro 2 successors to the popular HTC Touch Diamond and HTC Touch Pro, respectively. But, the hardware wasn’t all that HTC showcased from their hospitality suite at the Fira de Barcelona. HTC, always the innovator and always looking to make the mobile experience as enjoyable and integrated as possible, has announced a host of new productivity features built in to the new HTC Touch lineup.

From intuitive information access to built-in conference calling features to push internet, HTC is looking to redefine the way we use our smartphones on a daily basis. Let’s start by taking a look at HTC’s people-centric philosophy for communicating with the people that most matter to you. The people-centric approach to communications is integrated into the new HTC TouchFLO 3D UI, providing a single contact view that aggregates a particular contact’s communications (emails, text messages, and voice call history) in one easy to use interface. And, the new contact view allows the user to interact with a contact’s communications history while on a phone call.

Next up is HTC’s “Straight Talk” conference calling feature built in to the HTC Touch Pro 2. HTC is pushing “Straight Talk” as an integrated email, voice, and conference calling experience that allows the demanding enterprise user to seamlessly switch between emails, single calls, and even conference calls with multiple contacts. And, with the HTC Touch Pro 2’s two sports two separate microphones (which help cancel out echos and improve voice clarity) and dual speakers, Straight Talk turns the HTC Touch Pro 2 into a sophisticated conference room speakerphone system. Simply flip the HTC Touch Pro 2 on its face and the smartphone turns into a full-featured speakerphone with an integrated “mute” button adorning its backside.

Lastly, HTC has announced “Push Internet” for their new HTC Touch handsets. With Push Internet functionality, HTC hopes to make browsing your regular webpages a less time consuming experience. Rather than wait for your favorite websites to load on your mobile phone, “Push Internet” automatically downloads the data from pre-selected websites every morning, so that the next time you pull up the webpage, the data is ready to go. It’s not exactly “push” data as we’ve come to know the term, but the “Push Internet” feature is no less impressive.

Look for all these new features to be available in the HTC Touch Pro 2 and the HTC Touch Diamond 2 later this year.