HTC has unveiled a new handset aimed at business customers. The Touch Pro combines a slide-out qwerty keyboard, GPS support, and HTC's touch-based user interface.

Due to ship later this summer, the HTC Touch Pro has similar styling to HTC's Touch Diamond handset, announced in May. It also has the TouchFlo 3D user interface of that device, which lets users zoom and pan websites using fingertip control. Turning the device sideways also rotates the view automatically from portrait to landscape orientation.

The Touch Pro has an impressive specification with built-in GPS hardware, support for mobile networks with HSDPA at up to 7.2 Mbit/s, and 802.11b/g Wi-Fi. It also has 512 MB Flash storage and 288 MB RAM available to the user.

The slide-out qwerty keyboard makes the Touch Pro well suited for messaging and email, according to HTC.

“HTC Touch Pro is for those customers that demand the ease of use and enjoyment of TouchFlo 3D and want the styling of the Touch Diamond but also need the powerful mobile business experience that HTC delivers,” said HTC president and chief executive Peter Chou.

Pricing has yet to be announced for the device, which weighs 165g and has a 2.8in screen. It will deliver up to 8 hours talk time and last for up to two weeks on standby, according to HTC.