According to Trusted Reviews, the handset has a similar keyboard layout and screen to the BlackBerry Curve 8900, as well as a roller tracking ball.
It is comfortable to hold and “relatively lightweight”, with a fairly bright display - although the 320 x 240 resolution is “nothing special”.

Performance-wise, the HTC Snap is pretty speedy although the Windows Mobile Standard interface is “bog standard”.
All in all, Trusted Reviews awarded the handset eight out of ten for design, seven for features, eight for value and eight overall.

The price is £240.99, the website stated.
Other mobile phones currently available from HTC include the Hero and Magic, which is powered by the Google Android operating system.

Features include Google Maps, Talk, Gmail, YouTube and “seamless email synchronisation”.

What do you think of the HTC range?

According to the Telegraph, T Mobile is searching across Europe for available versions of the handset it can sell to Brits.
The network declined to comment on the matter but the newspaper said a “considerable amount of cash” would be needed to acquire the phones.

However, it would stop some of the company’s client base leaving for rival operators.

“The radical plan risks invoking the wrath of Apple, which tightly controls its exclusive deal with O2,” the publication added.

On arrival of the iPhone 3G S, it was given the once-over by Trusted Reviews, which gave it an overall score of ten out of ten.
The tech website highlighted usability and design as its strongest elements, but advised potential buyers to consider waiting a couple more months for the releases of the Palm Pre and Android handsets.

From now on, the Orange Music Store will feature content that is without the restrictions of Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology - meaning they can be transferred between phones, PCs and mp3 players more easily.
More than 700,000 tracks will be involved in the move, including songs from Universal and EMI’s back catalogue, as well as artists from smaller, independent labels.

Paul Jevons, director of products, portals and services for Orange, said the introduction of DRM-free content would help people “enjoy music how and when they want”.

“We look forward to enhancing the DRM-free music catalogue over the coming months,” he added.
Other phones in the Orange range include the audio-focused Sony Ericsson W995 - which is available in either black or red.

Would this be enough to make you upgrade?

A new range of sim cards is to be launched that aim to be more environmentally friendly.

A new range of sim cards is to be launched that aim to be more environmentally friendly.

In addition to cutting the amount of material needed in their manufacturer, Orange claims the new offering will reduce waste.

The network added the sim card launch represents the first of its kind in Europe and next time its customers upgrade their phone or contract they could expect to see the new, smaller chips.

Commenting on the announcement, Orange UK’s chief executive officer Tom Alexander said this was not the only green move that the company had made recently.

He explained: “80 per cent of our energy now comes from renewable sources, customers are encouraged to recycle handsets in our stores and we’ve committed to a universal mobile phone charger.”

Other recent announcements from the network included the UK launch of the HTC Touch Pro2 - which it said would be added to its business range of smartphones this year.

Would this be enough to make you switch networks?

Motorola has unveiled details of a new handset that it claims is tough on the outside and well-equipped for messaging.

Motorola has unveiled details of a new handset that it claims is tough on the outside and well-equipped for messaging.

In addition to carrying a full qwerty keyboard and push-to-talk technology, the manufacturer has said the Clutch i465 would make an ideal solution for small and medium-sized business users.

The model is the latest entry in its iDEN series of products and is praised for its functionality and tough exterior.

Commenting on the new model, sales manager for the range at Motorola’s Canadian arm Glenn Kennedy said the Clutch i465 is “a multi-talented communications tool.”

He added voice calling to individuals or groups and texting options were among the many strengths of the handset.

The phone is designed to meet US 810F military specifications and features Bluetooth and GPS technology.

Motorola’s range also includes the music-focused ROKR and the recently launched flagship device - the Aura.

Orange has announced the launch of a new mobile phone which it claims is an innovative multimedia option.

Orange has announced the launch of a new mobile phone which it claims is an innovative multimedia option.

Following the announcement it would make the LG Touchscreen Watch device available for a limited time in the UK - and planned to add to this range with other high-tech gadgets - the firm has now unveiled the Toshiba TG01.

The handset boasts a number of touchscreen facilities and multimedia options that Orange believes will make it a must-have for people who like their portable video content.

It is noted that the high-definition display is the widest of its kind currently available and works alongside a 1 GHz processor and list of shortcuts the carrier suggested will leave users disappointed.

Francois Mathieu, director of devices at Orange UK, said: “We believe the TG01 is a prime example of manufacturer innovation and is a device that is at the very top of its game.”

Other new phones in the Orange range include the HTC Touch Pro2.

How much do you use your mobile for video?

The Samsung Jet is a device that will be more suited to multimedia users than business professionals, one expert has asserted.

In an article for IT Pro this week, Benny Har-Even noted the South Korean manufacturer’s recently-announced device bucks the trend of using one of the more typical smartphone platforms.

He explained that instead of equipping the Jet with Windows Mobile, Google Android or Symbian, Samsung has used its own proprietary operating system and combined it with the Touch Wiz 2.0 user interface.

This means that overall, the handset struggles when put up against some of the more powerful options available like the HTC Magic or the Apple iPhone 3G S.

However, Mr Har-Even said that film and video lovers may find something they want in the Jet’s media player.

“Samsung has licensed the Divx video codec, so many files you download off the internet […] will play straight away without the need for conversion,” he concluded.

The firm announced the Jet on June 12th.

Would you upgrade for it?

LG has announced that one of its latest multimedia handsets has been a major success.

The South Korean manufacturer revealed that the LG Arena - which was launched earlier this year in the UK and also goes by the name of the LG-KM900 - sold around 300,000 across Europe during its first month in stores.

In addition, it said more than one million people registered to pre-order the device when it was announced, generating “strong word-of-mouth” about the gadget along the way.

The firm is attributing a large portion of the popularity of the Arena to the fact it is equipped with an integrated user interface (UI) that has gone on to win awards.

“LG’s intuitive 3D S-Class UI is fast and dynamic, delivering a sense of fun and interaction not found on any other mobile platform,” said Jeremy Newing, head of marketing at the firm in the UK.

The software was unveiled as the recipient of an iF Communication Design Award last month.

Are you an Arena user?

A new article has pitched two of the latest smartphones against one another in a bid to see which is the most worthy of consumer attention.

IntoMobile looked at the pros and cons of the HTC Touch Pro2 and the Nokia N97 and weighed them up to see which offers more than just an impressive feature set and solid useability.

The review pointed out that in terms of the both of these areas, the handsets are both comparatively sound, adding - with full qwerty keyboards and high-resolution screens - there were some clear similarities.

However, the HTC Touch Pro2 was praised as a “a powerful business-class smartphone with the feature-set and processing power to help you run your life from the road”.

Elsewhere, the Nokia N97 was highlighted for its inclusion of the Symbian S60 operating system that will impress some, but it was concluded that the HTC was the better of the two.

Last week, Orange announced the HTC Touch Pro2 would be made available to its business customers.