HTC shows no signs of slowing down their handset launches in the face of a waning global economy. Following on the launch of the HTC Touch HD, the venerable T-Mobile G1, and the HTC Touch Pro (and the carrier-branded AT&T Fuze), HTC has just announced the launch of yet another high-profile touchscreen smartphone – the HTC MAX 4G.
This time, HTC is bringing their expertise to the Russian market. The Scartel WiMAX concept phone has crossed over in to the real world with HTC’s launch of the HTC MAX 4G. As expected, the HTC MAX 4G is being billed as the world’s first smartphone to feature an integrated GSM and WiMAX radios – which allows the HTC MAX 4G to hop seamlessly from GSM networks to Mobile WiMAX networks. With a SIM card inserted, the HTC MAX 4G can make voice calls over most GSM networks. And, when the subscriber comes within range of Scartel’s Mobile WiMAX network, the HTC MAX 4G will route the call through the WiMAX data network as a VoIP call.
But, it doesn’t stop there. HTC wouldn’t launch a pioneering handset like the HTC MAX 4G without making sure the device was fitted with all kinds of bells and whistles. The HTC MAX 4G features the same 3.8 inch, 800×480 WVGA touch screen display that we’ve fallen head-over-heels for in the HTC Touch HD. The integrated GPS receiver ensures that you’ll always know exactly where you are, while the WiFi and WiMAX radios serve up high-speed wireless data with ease. And, the 5 megapixel autofocus camera should make for some high-quality pictures.
Being an HTC smartphone, it’s no surprise that the HTC MAX 4G is powered by Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional wrapped in HTC’s TouchFLO 3D UI. The TouchFLO 3D UI turns the staid Windows Mobile interface into a competent multimedia platform that should make the most of the HTC MAX 4G’s 8GB of onboard storage.
HTC designed the HTC MAX 4G for ultra high-speed access to video on demand, full track music downloads, online gaming, file exchange and a host of Internet content at true broadband speeds.
The more we look at it, the more the HTC MAX 4G starts to resemble the HTC Touch HD. With the same display and many of the same features, aside from the WiMAX radio, the HTC MAX 4G starts to sound like an HTC Touch HD with GSM and WiMAX compatibility – a good thing.
Full spec-sheet after the jump.
Processor: Qualcomm® ESM7206A™ 528 MHz
Platform: Windows Mobile® 6.1 Professional
Memory: ROM: 256MB / RAM: 288MB / Flash: 8 GB
Dimensions: 113.5mm X 63.1mm X 13.9mm
Weight: 151 grams (with battery)
Display: 3.8-inch TFT-LCD flat touch-sensitive screen @ 480 x 800 WVGA resolution
Network: Tri-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE:900/1800/1900 MHz; Yota Mobile WiMAX 2,5-2.7 GHz
Device Control: TouchFLO™ 3D
GPS: Integrated GPS
Connections: VoIP; Wi-Fi®: IEEE 802.11 b/g; Bluetooth® 2.0 with EDR; HTC ExtUSB™
Main camera: 5 megapixel with autofocus
Second: VGA-camera
Additional: Accelerometers (automatically rotating picture); Proximity sensor (saving energy while talking due to the switching the display off); FM-radio
Battery: Li-Pol, 1500 mAh
Talk time: GSM: up to 420 minutes; VoIP: up to 230 minutes
Standby time: GSM: up to 350 hours; VoIP: up to 50 hours
SCARTEL AND HTC LAUNCH WORLD’S FIRST INTEGRATED GSM/WIMAX HANDSET
Designed and Optimized for the Russian market, HTC MAX 4Gä Will Be Available inRussia on November 26th
Moscow, Russia – November 12, 2008 – Scartel (brand Yota), Russian provider of Mobile WiMAX, and HTC Corporation, a global leader in mobile phone innovation and design, today announced the HTC MAX 4G, the world’s first integrated GSM/WiMAX handset. Supported by a broad range of services based on Yota’s Mobile WiMAX network, the HTC MAX 4G delivers a rich multimedia and high quality telephony experience in a sleek and powerful touch screen handset.
“Yota was established to provide a unique set of mobile communication services to millions of people in Russia and today we have launched the first device and services to realise its full potential,” said Denis Sverdlov, General Director of Yota’s parent company, Scartel LLC (brand Yota). “We really believe that these innovative services, high-speed Internet and stylish HTC MAX 4G will completely change the communications industry, just as the introduction of cellular communications did many years ago.”
HTC MAX 4G: A New World of Entertainment
The Yota Mobile WiMAX network offers high-speed wireless Internet access that opens a new realm of entertainment and communication possibilities. The basic Yota Home package will provide subscribers with instant access to online games, maps, messaging and file exchange applications while on the move. In addition, the high-capacity Mobile WiMAX network with traffic prioritisation algorithms, allows online films, video and TV programmes to be viewed on the large WVGA screen.
Thanks to mobile WiMAX, high-quality multimedia entertainment is no longer limited.. With Yota Video, a full video on demand (VOD) service, users can watch their favourite movies and videos from their personal Yota catalogue anytime, anywhere.
Broadcasting 14 free channels at launch and 23 channels by the end of 2008, Yota TV introduces a powerful mobile television experience. The vibrant, 3.8 inch 800×480 screen of the HTC MAX 4G can display up to nine TV channels simultaneously, allowing quick and easy channel surfing and programme selection. Thanks to the device’s TV-out capability, users can also watch content on the big screen, putting the HTC MAX 4G at the very heart of the mobile entertainment experience.
For music-lovers, Yota Music offers an extensive online music catalogue of more than 50,000 titles, including a wide range of music from both international and independent music labels. Users can choose to either play the tracks direct from the online catalogue, or download them to the HTC MAX 4G’s 8GB of onboard flash memory.
In addition, a separate catalogue of electronic books is available, so users can download, read and enjoy a broad range of books while on the move.
”The introduction of the HTC MAX 4G represents the culmination of a close partnership between HTC and Yota to develop the world’s first integrated mobile GSM/WIMAX handset,” said Peter Chou, CEO and President, HTC Corporation. “Russia is a key strategic market for HTC and Yota’s Mobile WiMAX network sets a new global benchmark for next-generation mobile services.”
HTC MAX 4G: Flexible Communication
The HTC MAX 4G supports GSM calls using a SIM card from any Russian network operator and when both callers are Yota subscribers, the call will automatically be routed as a VoIP call over the Yota Mobile WiMAX network. The Yota Phone service also supports more business applications, allowing users to switch between English and Russian contact records while providing functionality such as call holding, conference calling and video calling using the VGA camera on the front of the device.
HTC MAX 4G: Unparalleled Performance With Intuitive Usability
The HTC MAX 4G was created to take full advantage of Yota’s high-speed Mobile WiMAX network without compromising style or ease of use. The device is sleek and elegant and includes a vibrant, large 3.8 inch, 800×480 WVGA touch screen display. The HTC MAX 4G also integrates a 3.5mm headphone jack to create the best possible experience for enjoying movies, music and photos on the go. Running Windows Mobile 6.1, the HTC MAX 4G incorporates HTC’s proprietary Touch FLO 3D user interface, allowing swift and intuitive navigation to key applications such as dialling calls, listening to music, taking picture and more.
Introduction of Yota Yap-yap
HTC MAX 4G users can now record their lives through a lens thanks to Yota’s Yap-yap service. This allows contacts to be synchronised and edited through the Web and video clips and photos can also be uploaded to www.yota.ru. Images taken with the integrated 5MP camera can also be geo-tagged using coordinates from the integrated GPS.