Smartphone Smackdown: HTC HD2 versus Apple iPhone 3GS (1)

The smartphone will also have integrated applications that connect directly for Facebook, Twitter and YouTube allowing users to access data more easily.

The HD2, which runs on the latest Windows Mobile 6.5, also promises to deliver "new customer experiences" through an easy-to-use interface (including large 'finger-friendly' icons that make item selection easier than on previous Windows Mobile handsets) and improved web-browsing capabilities.

Other amazing features about the HD2 are HTC Footprints (geo-tagging), Digital Compass and the NaviPanel and thanks to the large display screen of the HD2, maps are clearly visible and you can even replace a conventional GPS system with the HD2 while driving.

Other features of the HD2 include WiFi, GPS, HSUPA, 3G HSDPA, GPRS, EDGE, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, FM radio, HTML (Opera) browser (which promises quick, full-screen browsing with support for multiple pages), virtual touchscreen-based keyboard, G-sensor (like accelerometer in iPhone that senses if you rotate the device and changes the display to match), 512MB internal memory, microSD card slot, support for multiple audio and video formats, proximity sensor (to conserve battery life), ambient light sensor, FM radio, micro-USB connector, built-in stereo speakers and a standard 3.5mm headphone jack.

The battery life of the HD2 is also surprisingly good. The 1230 mAh Li-Ion battery has enough juice to power the phone up to 380 minutes (talk time) and up to 490 hours (standby time). In other words, you'll get a full day of average use from it.

The HD2's virtual keyboard, which comes with options for a full Qwerty, a compact Qwerty, or a standard 12-key phone keypad, is also pleasantly responsive and thanks to the predictive entry support, mistakes are ironed out automatically as you type a message.

So far, so good. However, the iPhone is no pushover and it has not held the No.1 spot among smartphones ever since it was launched two years back for nothing.

To find out the strengths of the iPhone and to see whether the HD2 can emerge the victor in the slugfest, click Smartphone Smackdown: HTC HD2 versus Apple iPhone 3GS (2) .