In the market for a large-display Android smartphone with a QWERTY keyboard, solid specs and international CDMA support? You just might have finally found the one with the HTC Merge, a newly-announced slider from the Taiwan-based manufacturer.
Teased in leaks and tips from various sources since late last year, the long-awaited device features global 3G roaming, making it an attractive proposition for many business users and other frequent travelers. It comes with what appears like a well-spaced landscape QWERTY keyboard, too, which should up the enticement for those in a habit of typing out long messages on their handsets.
Details of the HTC Merge include a 3.8-inch capacitive touchscreen display (800 x 480 resolution), a 5.0 megapixel camera module (with 720p video capture), aGPS, Wi-Fi and stereo Bluetooth. While not stated in the press release, it should have a microSD card slot, as HTC has always done with their Android phones.
The device comes with Android 2.2 Froyo, along with the usual Google Mobile Suit and some bundled apps. HTC Sense is layered over the native Android UI, of course.
Official release of the HTC Merge is slated in the Spring, with no pricing announced. According to HTC, the handset will be available under multiple North American operators.
[via UnwiredView]
