Bharti Airtel signs up HTC Touch Diamond for 3G service

High Tech Computer (HTC), the  Taiwanese manufacturer of HTC Touch Diamond, which is pushing sales of its much-hiped handset in both the entrenched markets as well as new markets, is headed to the Indian market.

While it is not sure whether HTC has packed its Touch Diamond with its 3G radio, India's Bharti Airtel has already signed up Diamond Touchstone, with its VGA touchscreen, integrated GPS, and 3 megapixel camera, as the exclusive carrier to offer 3G services to it's Indian subscribers.

The HTC Touch Diamond smartphone will cost around NT$26,000 (US$855) when it launches in Taiwan next month, sources in Taipei said.

The latest handset is a 3G (third generation mobile telecommunications) handset with a 2.8-inch touchscreen, GPS  receiver and 3.2-megapixel camera. The handset runs on the Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 OS.

HTC officials have said that pricing will vary in each market, and that operators play a major role in pricing decisions.

HTC launched a different version of Touch Diamond in India on Thursday, which costs 27,500 Indian rupees ($640). But the handset is an EDGE-based mobile phone (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution), which is the main reason it's less expensive than the 3G model to be launched in Taipei.

EDGE-based Touch Diamonds will be launched in some developing markets, while the 3G version will be available in places where networks are ready.