HTC launches Desire Z

HTC has launched the QWERTY-bearing Desire Z in
India, priced at Rs. 25,590 (MOP). Launched
suspiciously close to the Nokia E7, HTC is extolling the
same ‘best of both worlds’ virtue of the Android 2.2
Froyo-based Desire Z, offering users the benefits of
both a 3.7-inch touchscreen (no Super LCD for India)
and full four-line hardware QWERTY keypad.
The aluminium unibody-encased HTC Desire Z slides
open to reveal its keyboard using an innovative ‘pop
hinge’ design, responsible for maintaining a still
relatively slim 14.2 mm average width. The keyboard
interestingly also features two customizable keys. With
the hardware keypad and sliding form factor, HTC is
clearly aiming at the professional market as well as a
social networking one, and interestingly, also includes a
unified email inbox.
The Desire Z is powered by an 800MHz Scorpion
processor with an Adreno 205 GPU (Qualcomm 7230
chipset), running with 512MB of RAM. It has 1.5GB of
inbuilt storage that is expandable to 32GB with a
microSD card. The Desire Z ’s 5MP autofocus camera is
equipped with LED flash, and is capable of 720p HD
video recording.
Other major features include GPS (with A-GPS
support), digital compass, stereo FM with RDS, Wi-Fi
802.11 b/g/n with DLNA support, Bluetooth 2.1 with
A2DP, and, of course, 3G support in the form of
HSDPA at 14.4 Mbps, and HSUPA at 5.76 Mbps. The
1300 mAh battery onboard is manufacturer rated to
provide up to 430 hours of standby time, and nearly
10 hours of talk time.
Featuring Android 2.2 Froyo skinned with the
acclaimed Sense UI, the Desire Z also has access to
HTC Locations for their mapping needs, and
HTCSense.com for remote access and wiping
functions, as well as backup and cloud storage. As
reported earlier though, the phone is due to receive
an update to Android 2.3 Gingerbread sometime in
the second quarter of 2011.