14 DAY TRIAL // HTC Libra has received its FCC approval for launch on the US market and is now supposed to be ready for a release at Verizon Wireless in the near future. The device is on a waiting list, but ready to hit the stores any time now.
The smartphone will come under the name of UTStarcom XV5800, although it's probably a lot simpler to call it HTC Libra. It will run on Windows Mobile 6, which proves the fact that we are dealing with one evolved device.
One highly useful feature that many people will just love and others will hate is the fact that the phone features both a normal number keypad and a sliding QWERTY one. This takes up some considerable amount of space and cuts down on the display, so those who feel like they need a large screen on their handset will be disappointed.
The device is an upgraded version of the Vox S710 handset and manages to bring several features over it. Unlike the S710, the Libra has spring assisted mechanism for the slider. Other advantage of this latest model over the Vox is that it replaces the 2G EDGE data with 3G EV-DO.
HTC Libra comes packed with a 400 MHz processor, just enough for handling complex demands from the user under the form of many applications. That is better than in the case of the Vox model, although it is not sure whether it will manage to compensate for the several disadvantages that the old model used to bring.
HTC Libra is set for a release at Verizon under the unappealing name of UTStarcom XV5800 sometime until the end of August, although the carrier has made no official announcement on this. The price has not been specified until now.