HTC Merge sports 3.8-inch display, QWERTY keypad

February 25, 2011 By Geoff Duncan

HTC has formally announced its Android-based Merge smartphone: 3.8-inch screen, 5 megapixel camera, a slide-out QWERTY keypad, and Android 2.2.

Phone maker HTC has officially taken the wraps off its HTC Merge smartphone, the company’s latest offering based on Google’s Android platform. The Merge aims to appeal to bring HTC’s high-end Android magic to folks who live and die by messaging, combining a 3.8-inch touchscreen display and 5 megapixel camera with a slide-out QWERTY keypad. The Merge will also be HTC’s first CMDA “world phone” running Android—which should provide some hints about what carriers are most likely to offer it.

“HTC prides itself on creating unique solutions that meet the needs of different customers, and with features like a full keyboard and global 3G roaming, the HTC Merge smartphone is the perfect example of this commitment,” said HTC America’s president Jason Mackenzie, in a statement.

The HTC Merge will run Android 2.2, the camera will be able to capture 720p high-definition video, and (as one might expect) also packs 802.11 Wi-Fi and an integrated GPS. As with all HTC handsets, the Merge will run HTC’s Sense interface on top of Android 2.2, including HTC’s FriendStream functionality that pulls social data from sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Facebook so users can stay up-to-date on their friends without having a manage a load of separate applications.

HTC hasn’t announced pricing or carrier partners for the Merge, saying only that it will be available from “multiple North American operators” in spring 2011.

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Tito Lopez at 11:49am 25th February 2011 I have an HTC Desire that's about a year old - I got it the week it was first released and it has and is an awesome phone. HOWEVER....the camera is whack. That's WHACK meaning bad like CRACK - either the drug you smoke or that which a plumber exposes when fixing your drain.... I cant believe that they continue to put the same camera in phone after phone.... and I am disappointed that when my contract is up / or when I am eligible for an upgrade.... that HTC haven't really up'd thier designs. You got this phone which is very similar looking and secc'ed up as to match my Desire.... some tweaks and the addition of a Qwerty, but what I am not seeing is real change in design or improvements to the specs. The sould drop the 5 megapixels and put the smack down with a 10 or 2 megapixel camera with a proper HD recorder...not the jittery, hard to focus ''HD'' malarky they have been putting out since the HD2. Cage he game, partner with CArl Zies or something unique. You've got about 10 months until I can upgrade to get your act together or I'm going with Samsung or Moto.