HTC unveils latest iPhone rival

HTC Touch Diamond boasts sleek user interface and impressive spec

HTC has unveiled its latest mobile device, the HTC Touch Diamond, which the company said delivers an entirely new mobile Internet experience and also introduces a novel 3D user interface.

Set to be available via European carriers from June, the Touch Diamond is the first handset to ship with Windows Mobile 6.1. The device also invites comparisons with Apple's iPhone, with its emphasis on mobile web browsing and its touch-based user interface.

“The HTC Touch Diamond will make browsing the Web and using Web-enabled applications just as practical and easy to use as making calls," HTC president and CEO Peter Chou said in a statement.

HTC's user interface builds on that of the firm's existing Touch models. Called TouchFlo 3D, this provides animated access to messaging, email, photos, music, weather and more, the company said. Users can zoom and pan websites with one-hand, and turning the device sideways automatically rotates the view from portrait to landscape.

The Touch Diamond has an impressive specification: it supports mobile networks with HSDPA and HSUPA with claimed speeds up to 7.2 Mbit/s, where available, plus it has built-in GPS and 802.11b/g support. The device has a 2.8in screen and weighs 110g, with 4GB internal storage, 256 MB Flash, and 192 MB RAM.