HTC Shift for CDMA Networks Available for Preorder *UPDATED*

Amazon.com has confirmed the existence of a device that previously was mostly just a rumor: a version of the HTC Shift for CDMA networks. This is expected to offer the 3G standard EV-DO.

The Shift is HTC's first UMPC, and it combines many of the features of a laptop and a smartphone.

One of the major features of this device is the ability to connect to high-speed cellular-wireless networks. A GSM version with the 3G standard HSDPA was released last month, and now Amazon.com is taking pre-orders for an as-yet-unannounced version for CDMA networks.

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The GSM version's product number is HTCX9500, while the CDMA one is HTCX9000.

Amazon.com's product page for this is light on details, and says nothing about support for EV-DO. However, the FCC approved a CDMA version of the Shift late last year, and this included EV-DO support, so it will almost certainly be included in the version that will be released soon.

Pricing and Availability

Although Amazon.com is taking pre-orders for this UMPC, it doesn't say when it will debut.

Update: HTC said today that the HTCX9000 will be released in the U.S. on Monday, April 24.

The online retailer does at least give the price: $1,500.

An Overview of the HTC Shift

The HTC Shift runs Windows Vista Business, and includes something HTC is calling SnapVUE technology. This is sort of mini-operating system running alongside Vista on its own 400 MHz processor and memory but using the same display. It is there to provide immediate access to emails, calendar, SMS messages and contacts, without the need to fully boot up the device, which helps conserve power and extend battery life.

This mini-laptop has a tablet design with a QWERTY keyboard hidden behind its 7-inch touchscreen. When the screen is slid aside to expose the keyboard, it will flip up at an angle.

When closed, it is 8.1 inches wide, 5.1 inches tall, and 1.0 inches thick. (207 mm x 129 mm x 25 mm). It weighs 1.7 pounds (800 g).

The Shift runs Vista Business on an Intel 800 MHz processor. It has 1 GB of RAM and a 40 GB hard drive.

It offers Wi-Fi (b/g) and Bluetooth 2.0, as well as its 3G support.

Other Shift features include an SD slot, a GPS receiver, VGA out, a biometric fingerprint scanner, and a webcam.

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