Acer to launch Stream handset in August

The Stream uses Acer's Shell 4.0 interface

Acer has unveiled the entertainment-oriented Stream smartphone, which it says is designed for watching films and web browsing.

The 11.2mm thick handset houses a 3.7in WVGA Amoled capacitive touch screen with a 2,000:1 contrast ratio. The energy-efficient display gives the Stream a battery life of up to seven hours talk time, according to Acer.

A Qualcomm Snapdragon 1GHz processor and 512MB of RAM puts the Stream up there with the fastest phones on the market, including the HTC Desire and Samsung Galaxy S.

The Stream runs on Android 2.1 and comes with three predictive keyboards, a smart dialler and a redesigned contacts list courtesy of Acer's Shell 4.0 user interface, the firm said.

A 5-megapixel camera can record video in 720p and has been integrated with the GPS system allowing photos and videos to be geo-tagged.

The Stream ships with 2GB of internal Flash memory and an 8GB memory card. The micro-SD card slot supports expansion up to 32GB.

A number of social networking apps will come preloaded onto the phone, including Facebook, YouTube and Twidroid, along with Google Maps, Roadsync, Gmail and Microsoft Exchange.

Connectivity includes 3G, HSDPA, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, while Universal Plug and Play technology allows files to be shared with PCs and notebooks. Users can connect the device to a TV via a HDMI port to view films on a larger screen, Acer added.

The Acer Stream will be available from 9 August for £399 exclusively from online retailer eXpansys.