Taiwan-based smartphone maker HTC unveiled a new flagship phone today with a touch-screen display and applications for viewing content from websites such as YouTube and Google Maps.

HTC Touch Diamond More Photos View Specs

High Tech Computer (HTC) said its Touch Diamond phone would offer high-speed mobile Internet access using HSDPA and HSUPA, upgrades to existing third-generation networks that boost data transmission speeds.

After years of manufacturing handsets for other companies, HTC has begun asserting its own name with high-end smartphones. First introduced in 2007, the Touch series of touch screen phones have sold more than 3 million units globally. Fourth-quarter 2007 shipments place the company fifth among smartphone manufacturers - after Nokia, Research In Motion, Motorola and Apple.

"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, president and CEO, HTC Corp. "The HTC Touch Diamond will make browsing the Web and using Web-enabled applications just as practical and easy to use as making calls."

The Touch Diamond, which is about the size of half a deck of playing cards, may be smaller than the iPhone, but HTC is hoping consumers will find it has big appeal. HTC wanted the design to be unique enough that "it can be recognized from across the street," says HTC's chief innovation officer, Horace Luke, and that it would be both "lovable and usable." A user should be able to operate it with one hand while walking down the street laden with bags, says Luke. That translated into a shiny black phone with a faceted back - an homage to a diamond's edges.

The phone includes a circular navigation wheel to help consumers navigate its menus. And HTC has also layered its own user-friendly software over the Windows Mobile operating system from Microsoft - that means consumers can reach their work email but also see an easily navigable interface.

To encourage mobile Internet browsing, the Touch Diamond offers speedy upload and download connections, Wi-Fi and a glass screen with about four times better resolution than HTC's previous Touch phones. HTC improved touch screen innovation with its new 3D touch interface called TouchFLO 3D. TouchFLO 3D provides animated access to people, messaging, email, photos, music, weather and more. Users can zoom and pan Websites with one-hand and automatically view optimized content that fits the display. Turning the device sideways automatically rotates the web page view from a portrait to landscape view. The Touch Diamond includes a customized new YouTube application for watching videos as well as Google Maps for mobile for mapping and traffic data.

Customers in Europe will be able to buy the phone in June, HTC said. It will be available later this quarter in Asia and the Middle East, and in North and Latin America in the second half of 2008.

- HTC Touch Diamond Specs