Asus Sets Speed Record with P565

With an 800MHz processor, Asus' P565 handset is the fastest on the market.

While other smartphone manufacturers battle over who has the biggest screen or the nicest QWERTY keyboard, Asus brought a focus on speed to the game with Friday’s launch of the P565. Thanks to an 800MHz CPU inside, Asus claims it’s the fastest smart phone on the market today.

According to Asus, the Marvell TavorP process delivers benchmark scores up to twice as high as those from competing phones, making the P565 more suited to multitasking and graphically intense operations. The company has also upped the ante with its display, which spans only 2.8 inches but packs full 640 x 480 resolution – double that of the iPhone.

Though it will run Windows Mobile 6.1 as an operating system, the P565 comes customized with Asus’ own Glide touch interface, which includes multiple home screens, gestures, and a Cover-Flow-style browser for music and photos. It will also include Microsoft Office Mobile and support for push e-mail.

The leather-wrapped phone also gets a 3-megapixel webcam, GPS chip, and of course, support for 3G HSDPA Internet.

Full details on the phone, including pricing and availability, have not yet been revealed.