High Tech Computer (HTC) announced the HTC Touch Diamond today. The Touch Diamond utilizes 3G (third generation) mobile technology. The device runs Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional and has a touch screen that can be used one-handed. Apple hasn’t said when it will launch a 3G phone, but the company is expected to do so later this year.

Starting this June, the Touch Diamond will be available in Europe. The Asian and Middle Eastern markets will follow, with sales hitting North and South America in the second half of 2008.

“Today we mark a new era in mobile-phone evolution, an era where beauty and size integrate with uncompromising innovation at broadband speeds,” said Peter Chou, HTC president and CEO. “The HTC Touch Diamond will make browsing the Web and using Web-enabled applications just as practical and easy to use as making calls.”

Qualcomm chips allow the Touch Diamond to use High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) on Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) networks that allow data speeds up to 7.2 Mbits per second.

The Touch Diamond has a 2.8 inch touch-screen that has a resolution of 640 pixels by 480 pixels. TouchFlo software can make images look 3D and turning the handset sidewise rotates the view accordingly.

The Touch Diamond has a 3.2 megapixel camera with auto-focus that allows video calling. The battery life lasts up to four hours of talk time and the handset has 4G bytes of flash memory for storing music and video.

This isn’t the first time HTC beat Apple to the punch. Last year HTC launched its first Touch handset nearly a month ahead of Apple’s iPhone launch.

Touch Diamond

The games of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing next year will utilize some advanced technologies, reports China Knowledge. Representatives of the Beijing Olympic committee and China Mobile Ltd. have announced that technology such as 3G, HSDPA, Wi-Fi and WiMax will be used during the games. Media reporters, participants and even the audience will be able to access the various wireless systems, while China Mobile has promised to deliver 3G technology in time for the game.

Various tests will be run from now until next April to ensure that things will be in place in time for the games. China Mobile will likely push forward with TD-SCDMA, their own domestic version of the 3G service for the Olympics.

Full front of technology to be used in 2008 Olympics [China Knowledge]

If you read my 10 Things I Hate About Smartphones post last week, you’d discover that I hate Windows Mobile and that, even though they run Windows Mobile, I love HTC. So with that piece of cognitive dissonance in mind, I present my review of the Cingular 8525 aka the Hermes, a Windows Mobile Pocket PC smartphone with fold out QWERTY keyboard and touchscreen. It costs $399 with contract.
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Here at CTIA, Sierra Wireless and Cingular Wireless have announced that they will be releasing the AirCard 875. The AirCard 875 is a 3G LaptopConnect card and also the first HSDPA 3.6 Mbps network card in America. The new AirCard will allow Cingular customers to have a mobile broadband connection in over 100 countries. The card will be retailing for $99.99 (after rebate) when Cingular customers sign up for a two-year unlimited DataConnect contract ($59.00). Not too bad of a deal if you’re always on the go.

Sierra Wireless also announced the USB NC5725 Rev A embedded module. This USB modem supports EV-DO Rev A and comes with a dock that can can be used to plug the modem into your desktop if all your USB plugs have been filled.