HTC Corp. today announced that the HTC Touch will make its Asian retail debut in Taiwan. Smart, stylish and versatile, the HTC Touch brings together a broad variety of communication, entertainment, and professional capabilities that enable mobile consumers to balance work and play. The new HTC-designed homescreen provides one-touch access to E-Mails, text messages, calendar appointments, and contacts, as well as current weather conditions and forecasts for hundreds of cities around the world.

The HTC Touch is the first device to feature TouchFLO, a 3-D user interface that allows users to move through on-screen options by sweeping their fingers across the screen, or scrolling up and down using a fingertip. Consumers simply slide their finger on the display to launch an animated interface comprising three screens: Contacts, Media, and Applications. The interface can be spun by swiping a finger right or left across the display, providing efficient access to the features consumers use most. TouchFLO also enhances finger touch scrolling and browsing of Web pages, documents, messages and contact lists. The interface has even been programmed to intelligently distinguish between finger and stylus input and then responds accordingly.

"With the launch of the HTC Touch, HTC has officially emerged as an instantly-recognizable global brand," said Peter Chou, chief executive officer at HTC. "Since Taiwan is HTC's home base, it is only fitting that it be the first country in Asia to sell the HTC Touch."

Furthermore, given the long-standing relationship between both companies, HTC has selected Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan's largest telecommunications operator, as its exclusive partner in retailing the HTC Touch, and the device will be made available to consumers island-wide beginning in mid-June.

"Chunghwa Telecom is very pleased to be HTC's exclusive partner in distributing and retailing the HTC Touch," said Hochen Tan, chairman of Chunghwa Telecom. "As Taiwan's leading communications operator, we look forward to strengthening our relationship with HTC and providing our customers in Taiwan with the latest and most innovative smart devices on the market. "

Leveraging the broad functionality of Windows Mobile 6 Professional, the HTC Touch includes Outlook Mobile, Office Mobile, Windows Live and the capabilities to run thousands of third-party applications. Users can surf the web with Internet Explorer, send and receive E-Mails, chat on Messenger and send files to their own web space through Windows Live. The HTC Touch brings a new level of simplicity to the powerful and function-rich device experience that today's mobile consumers demand.

Cheers ~ Arne