HTC Smart

Touchscreen handsets may be the rage these days, but as HTC CEO Peter Chou put it in a press release: "Just adding a touch interface doesn't mean a phone is a smartphone." Which is a conundrum since the Smart isn't exactly a smartphone either, even if its moniker gives that impression.

Announced at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, HTC is pitching the Smart as a smartphone for the masses. The touchscreen handset runs on Qualcomm's Brew mobile platform with HTC Sense anchoring the user interface. While we're not sure if we need another operating system in the mix, it makes for a sensible option if HTC intends to increase its focus on low-cost smartphones or feature phones.

With the Sense UI, the company can deliver a familiar and consistent user interface across its product range. This is the same as how Samsung and LG are moving forward with the TouchWiz and S-Class software, respectively. Eventually, the underlying operating system may eventually be no longer apparent to the end user, as customised software interface steps up to define the smart in a smartphone.

The Smart has modest specifications, which isn't surprising as it's targeted at the masses. It has a 300MHz processor, 256MB RAM, 2.8-inch QVGA touchscreen, a 3-megapixel fixed-focus camera, Bluetooth stereo, 3-megapixel camera and microSD card slot. The Smart is also a quad-band phone with support for the WCDMA 2100MHz spectrum commonly used in Europe and Asia. Ostensibly missing are Wi-Fi connectivity and camera flash.

From the pictures, the Smart appears to have touch-sensitive Call/End keys and physical buttons for Back and Menu functions. The 3.5mm audio jack is along the top edge, while the mini-USB port is at the bottom. Going by past experiences with HTC products which usually have a rather solid build and matte chassis, the Smart would probably deliver the same look and feel.

We haven't had the chance for a hands-on with the HTC Smart yet, but it shouldn't be too long before we can get our mitts on it. The device is expected across Europe and Asia this quarter. Exact launch countries and dates will be unveiled as more information comes in.