HTC shows new Touch phones at MWC

The Touch Pro2 has a Qwerty keypad and speakerphone system

HTC has announced the Touch Diamond2 and Touch Pro2 handsets at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The phones have an enhanced version of the company's TouchFlo user interface, and can be upgraded later to Microsoft's new Windows Mobile 6.5 platform.

Due in the second quarter of 2009, the Touch Diamond2 builds on last year's Touch Diamond, adding a larger 3.2in VGA-resolution wide-screen display. It also includes a new touch-sensitive zoom bar for rapid scrolling through web pages and other applications, and is designed for one-handed operation, according to HTC.

The Touch Pro2 is expected in the summer and features a 3.6in wide-screen VGA display that slides back to reveal a Qwerty keyboard for email and text messaging.

One unusual feature of the Touch Pro2 is a speakerphone system that HTC claimed can deliver an experience similar to professional kit found in corporate boardrooms. Dubbed Straight Talk, this combines asymmetric speakers and advanced noise suppression with full duplex acoustics. When the handset is flipped over it automatically turns into a conference room speakerphone system, the company said.

Both phones have the latest version of HTC's TouchFlo 3D user interface, which is now more closely integrated with Windows Mobile 6.1 to give a consistent experience across all of the built-in applications and their menus.

The update is also designed to make navigation easier and bring important information to the main screen, including messaging, email, photos, music and weather.

As part of the launch of Windows Mobile 6.5, Microsoft singled out the Touch Diamond2 and Touch Pro2 as examples of handsets that are capable of being upgraded to the new platform once it becomes available.

Both the new handsets are HSDPA-capable with quad-band network support for voice and built-in GPS. Both also have 512MB Flash Rom and 288MB Ram, plus a MicroSD card slot for storage. The Touch Diamond2 weighs 117.5g with battery, while the Touch Pro2 is 187.5g.