Orange UK Preps 16-Key Touch Dual

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.modaco.com/Orange-Confirms-16-key-To-t260237.html' target='_blank'>http://www.modaco.com/Orange-Confir...To-t260237.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Orange today confirmed that the Touch Duals to be used on their UK network will have the 16-key "phone" pad, rather than the quasi-qwerty 20-key flavour also available. This raises some interesting thoughts as to which devices are viewed as competition to the Dual. Its clear that there is no love lost between Microsoft and RIM, however by chosing to avoid a qwerty layout it seems that between Orange and HTC a decision has been made to target other manufacturers."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20071012-touchdual.jpg" /><br /><br />Orange UK looks set to introduce the recently-announced HTC Touch Dual, although it's been reported that it'll be the 16-key variant (think T9) as opposed to the 20-key variant (think SureType). Which of the two flavours do you prefer?

[marisa8184]

So, no Wifi
no Querty type keyboard

I think that most current Touch owners if asked how their current Touch could be improved would say:

more memory (most)
faster processor (most)
better battery (most)
3G (most)
Querty keyboard (some)

I think this phone is unlikely to be picked up by current Touch owners or WM device owners as an 'improvement' especially in Europe. This seems to be positioned to take market share from the standard Nokia type phone.

Let's hope that somewhere in 'The Plan' there is a Touch 3 which gives the size and look of the Touch range, with the functionality of the Kaiser! Now, there would be a machine!

[griph]

I think this phone is unlikely to be picked up by current Touch owners or WM device owners as an 'improvement' especially in Europe. This seems to be positioned to take market share from the standard Nokia type phone. !

Not sure that I follow the logic there - you list the improvements most wanted, which are as far as I can see all met by the 20key Touch dual and 80% by the 16 key Touch Dual.

I agree that the apparent omission of WiFi is an oversight, for me it is not a killer. A 201mhz processor and lack of 3G and mediocre memory definitely are - so IMHO the Touch Dual is likely to replace the Touch for those who may be interested in that particular form factor. I am sure that a number of existing Touch users will upgrade to the Dual - I can recall how many (in the UK in particular) upgraded from the Psion 3a/512 - to the 3a/2MB, 3c etc with substantially less hardware improvement justifying the change.

Interestingly, in a search of the HTC regional websites, I haven't yet seen one that proposes to release the Dual 20 key Qwerty option. Most of the far east and australia dont have the Dual up yet. Japan does and are showing a Pearl White one:

http://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/product/business_model/ht1100/images/ht1100.jpg

Everywhere else including the US, Europe and England and showing the 16 key option.

The touch dual 16 key comes with a soft Qwerty screen based upon the 20 key keyboard as the following screenshot from 4winmobile shows:

http://www.4winmobile.com/reviewer/neilm/htc2.jpg