HTC HD Mini – Hotphone Prediction for 2010

I admire companies that take learnings from the past, especially related to successes, and apply them to the current context. In this case, HTC is replicating, what I believe, their huge success that they had with the O2 XDA II Mini. Back in 2004, O2 launched the mini version of the O2 XDA II (manufactured by HTC) which was one of the best selling Windows Mobiles devices of the year. We found that women in particular were attracted to its diminutive size. Zoom to 2010 -  the larger and beastier HTC HD2 is a hit and it is an opportune time to leverage this success with a smaller version that provides a similar impressive experience – the HTC HD Mini.

Not only is it more compact but its design is refined and sleek. The HTC HD Mini‘s clean lines and elegant construction will make any owner want to show it off to their office or school buddies.

My only wish was that it kept the 1GHz Snapdragon chip of the HTC HD2 but I’m sure this would have impacted its design. I also think that Apple should consider releasing a mini iPhone as I know of many people who won’t buy one simply because of its size.

Keep an eye on this one. I’m sure it will be a winner.

Starts shipping next month in Europe and Asia.

Specifications of HTC HD Mini:

Size: 104 x 57 x 10.9mm
Networks: WCDMA/HSPA: 900/2100 Mhz GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 Mhz Maximum
Speed: UL=2 Mbps; DL=7.2 Mbps
OS: Windows Mobile 6.5 with HTC Sense
Display: 3.2 inch HVGA capacitive touch screen
Camera: 5 megapixel with auto focus
Internal Memory: 512 MB flash, 384 MB Ram
Memory Card: microSD
Processor: 600 Mhz Qualcomm MSM7227
WLAN: 802.11b/g
Bluetooth: 2.1 with EDR
GPS: GPS/AGPS
Battery: 1200 mAh
Special features: Motion G-sensor, FM radio, 3.5mm audio jack, MicroUSB, Straight Talk Lite, People, TouchFLO 3D, Business Card Scanner, Facebook, Twitter

HTC HD Mini Video:

HTC HD Mini Press Release

BARCELONA, Mobile World Congress – February 16, 2010 – HTC Corporation, a global designer of smartphones, today introduced the HTC HD mini, an HTC Sense-based Windows Phone focused on delivering the popular experience of the HTC HD2 in a more compact design.

“The demand for the HTC HD2 has exceeded our expectations, and the HTC HD mini fulfils a desire from some customers to bring the capabilities and experience of the HTC HD2 to a more compact design,” said Peter Chou, chief executive officer, HTC Corporation. “The integration of HTC Sense and Windows Phone on HD mini and HD2 gives customers an additional choice for an advanced Windows mobile phone that is sleek, well crafted and easy to use.”

The HTC HD mini sports a high degree of usability along with its own unique and beautiful design. Precision fasteners used to assemble the phone are externally visible, displaying a high level of craftsmanship rarely found in mobile phones. And the strong design ethos continues under the battery cover where a bright yellow internal structure, offers an unexpected surprise when the phone is opened.

The HTC HD mini utilises HTC Sense, a user experience focused on putting people at the centre by making the phone work in a more simple and natural way. This experience revolves around three fundamental principles that were developed by observing and listening to how people live and communicate. These core tenets of Make It Mine, Stay Close and Discover the Unexpected continue to be the key to the new HTC Sense experience.

Like the HTC HD2, the HTC HD mini continues the same focus on people-centric communication with complete Outlook integration.  It helps you stay close to the important friends and colleagues in your life by providing a single contact view that displays individual communication snapshots of your conversations, regardless of whether it was a call, text, status update or email. HTC’s Windows-based Twitter application, HTC Peep, enables you to tweet and follow your twitter stream.

HTC HD mini includes capacitive touch for viewing, zooming and resizing websites, Microsoft® Office files, PDF documents and pictures with just a pinch of your fingers.  Leveraging its 3G broadband connectivity, the HTC HD mini also offers personal Wi-Fi anywhere for your computer or other devices. The HD mini can also be further enhanced to reflect your needs and style by downloading a variety of applications from the Windows® Marketplace for Mobile.

Availability
The new HTC HD mini will be broadly available to customers across major European and Asian markets beginning in April.