After launching a 2G iPhone killer on June 4 last year, a month ahead of the official launch of the iPhone, High Tech Computer Corporation (HTC) has launched a new 3G version of its HTC Touch ahead of the awaited launch of the 3G iPhone. The new smartphone is dubbed HTC Touch Diamond and is packed with high-end features. The 3G iPhone is expected to be unveiled at the beginning of June during Jobs’ speech at WWDC.

HTC Touch Diamond offers a 2.8” LCD touch screen with backlight, a 240 x 320 dots resolution with 65,536 colors and a 3.2 mega-pixel camera with video calling.  The Touch Diamond measures 102 x 51 x 11.33mm and it weighs only 110g with battery and, according to HTC, has a standby time up to 300 hours/100 hours with push email and a talk time of 4 hours. The integration of the 3G technology is not the only novelty.

The Touch Diamond has a new 3D touch interface called TouchFLO 3D. The interface can be spun by swiping a finger right or left across the display, providing efficient access to the features consumers use most. TouchFLO also enhances finger touch scrolling and browsing of Web pages, documents, messages and contact lists.

It provides animated access to people, messaging, email, photos, music, weather and more. Other key features include FM radio and WorldCard Mobile to manage business cards. HTC’s Touch Diamond is powered by Qualcomm MSM 7201A 528MHz and it offers 4 GB Internal Storage, 256 MB flash and 192 MB RAM.

HTC Touch Diamond uses Windows Mobile 6.1 and it promises an entirely new mobile Internet experience that utilizes broadband-like speeds with HSDPA 7.2 Mbps and HSUPA wireless connectivity.

The HTC Touch Diamond will be available in Europe next month, while the customers form Asia and the Middle East will be able to buy the new phone later this quarter. The North American and Latin American versions of the Touch Diamond will be available in the second half of 2008, the Taiwan-based company said.

In late March, it was rumored that HTC has an Android phone in the works that is nearing production phase and will hit the market late this year. The smartphone is allegedly named "Dream." HTC was also the first company which admitted they are designing an Android phone.

HTC was founded in 1997 as an Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) which made and/or makes phones for Fujitsu-Siemens, HP/Compaq, i-mate, Krome, Sharp Corporation., UTStarcom. Now the company sells its own HTC self-branded products which are also rebranded for various carriers around the world, including Orange, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, Sprint Nextel, O2, Vodafone, AT&T, Alltel, Bell and Telus.