14 DAY TRIAL // The Windows Mobile 6.5-based HTC Imagio is now available for purchase from Verizon Wireless, turning into the first Windows phone the carrier releases for its subscribers. The device has been announced to come to Verizon a few days ago, and now it hits shelves the very same day other handsets running under Microsoft's new Windows Mobile flavor became available.
“Now operating on the Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional platform, the new HTC Imagio combines performance and functionality in one sleek package. Imagio offers a TouchFLO UI, a 3.6” touch screen, w/zoom control, a virtual QWERTY keyboard, and a 3.5mm headset jack in addition to Global capability when traveling overseas in supported destinations. The ultra–slim Imagio can create and edit documents in Word and Excel, view PowerPoint files, filter your Inbox, and stay connected securely with your office via ActiveSync or Windows Mobile Device Center,” Verizon states.
There are a wide range of features users can enjoy with the new device, including EV-DO, 1X RTT capable (Rev. A capable); GSM quad-band (GSM/GPRS/EDGE); UMTS/WCDMA/HSDPA/HSUPA connectivity, as well as a Qualcomm MSM7600 processor clocked at 528MHz, 512MB of internal memory and 288MB of RAM, Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g) connectivity, Bluetooth 2.1, and support for Mobile Broadband Connect.
In addition, the new HTC Imagio also comes with a 5-megapixel photo snapper with auto focus and video recording capabilities, Text, Picture and Video messaging (MMS), V CAST Mobile TV, V CAST Video, V CAST Music with Rhapsody, Speakerphone, Visual Voice Mail, access to YouTube and Facebook, and support for VZ Navigator. The phone's 1500 mAh battery can deliver up to 318 minutes of talk time or up to 324 hours of standby time.
The new handset is available from Verizon for $199.99 upon the signing of a two-year contract agreement with the carrier. On a side note, we should mention that the HTC Touch Pro2, available on Verizon for $199.99 on a two-year contract, has more than a week since it is out of stock. The device was launched with the carrier only a few weeks ago, with Windows Mobile 6.1 on board, yet it has been said to soon receive an upgrade to WM 6.5 too, so Verizon might wait for the handset to be upgraded before making it available once again.