Sprint Brings EV-DO Rev A to HTC Touch

Sprint has posted a software update for its HTC Touch and Mogul handsets that adds WIndows Mobile 6.1, and brings EV-DO Rev. A and enhanced GPS to the Touch.

If you’re using an HTC Touch or Mogul from Sprint and the launch of the iPhone 3G has got you thinking you’re using yesterday’s handset, an announcement today could put a smile on your face. Sprint has announced a free software update for the HTC Touch handset that brings EV-DO Rev. A mobile broadband to the smartphone, along with enhanced GPS capabilities, the mobile version of the Opera Web browser, and an onscreen 40-key QWERTY keyboard that offers an additional option for responding to messaging and entering other data. HTC Mogul users get access to the Sprint TV wireless video-on-demand service…and both the Touch and Mogul get a bump to Windows Mobile 6.1.

“Sprint is committed to matching customer needs with the technology that gives them the freedom to access and download the content they want and have a PC-like experience,” said Sprint’s VP of customer equipment, in a statement.

EV-DO Rev. A capability means average download bandwidth on the Touch will increase from 600 Kbps to 1.4 Mbps (up from 400-700Kbps on EV-DO Rev. 0), and upload speeds will kick up to 350–500Kbps. Enhanced GPS capabilities will let the handsets tie into services like Sprint Navigation (which offers turn-by-turn directions), and the onscreen keyboard gives customers another option for entering text and data.

Sprint previously released an update for the Mogul that let it tap into EV-DO Rev. A data services. The new update for the Mogul enables Sprint TV and puts Windows Mobile 6.1 on the smartphone.

Both the Touch update and the Mogul update are available for free download.