Like all other Windows Mobile devices, the Touch has Outlook connectivity, with Pocket versions of Word, Powerpoint, and Excel. Included also is a PDF reader and full multimedia suite for viewing pictures, watching video, and jamming some tunes.

The Web
Along with the entertainment and productivity offerings, the Touch has complete Internet connectivity (depending on your service provider and subscription plan). Included for browsing is the Pocket version of Internet Explorer, of course. But it is also push-email capable, IM (instant messaging) capable with Live Messenger, and has a mobile version of Windows Live.

TouchFlo and HTC Today
The highlight of HTC's Touch is the TouchFlo interface; the means by which you can finger-navigate the device. In truth, it's a bit of a launcher-type application. By sweeping a finger from the bottom of the screen (at the HTC logo) to the top, the TouchFlo app, in Figure C, is opened.

FIGURE C


A touch brings up the TouchFlo interface. Roll over picture for a larger image.

As you can see, with the TouchFlo launcher, you can easily access many of your most-used functions and applications with the press of a finger. It's much more though. The finger-sweep opens the Touch Cube, and through it, you can launch any of the multimedia applications as well.

Sweep your finger across the screen horizontally, and the Touch Cube rotates to the communication center. Here, you can add photo shortcuts to the nine people you contact most, place calls, send SMS, MMS, and email.

Rotate the Touch Cube again for shortcuts to six of the most-used applications: email, IE, Tasks, Calendar, SMS, and the Comm Manager. The Comm Manager is a centralized location from which to control the phone functions, push email, and all wireless connections: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPRS/EDGE.

There's still more to TouchFlo though. You can navigate and scroll through menus, documents, and Web pages just by sliding your finger around the screen.

And finally, HTC Today. A Today plug-in, HTC Today gives you an alarm clock/notification center, local weather forecast, and a customizable quick-launcher for your favorite and most-used applications. You can find an example of HTC Today in Figure D.

FIGURE D


Here's HTC's Today plug-in. Roll over picture for a larger image.

The review
When I first took the Touch out of the box, I was instantly impressed. It's quite light, fits in the hand just right, and I love the rubbery, nonslip coating. Another plus is the manual. As you can see in Figure E, the Touch comes with a real, live, printed and bound Owner's Manual.

FIGURE E


I love a printed manual. Roll over picture for a larger image.

The HTC Today plug-in is a very nice addition. It incorporates the functions of several of the most popular third-party Today plug-ins; those featuring weather, a shortcut launcher, or a clock/alarm/reminder function. It's such a wonderful, useful application that I would like it very much if HTC made it available as an update to all current and future device owners.

As a Windows Mobile device, the Touch functions pretty much as any other Windows Mobile device. Likewise, as a GSM phone, it functions pretty much the same as any other GSM phone. The Touch comes as an unlocked device, so your SIM card from any GSM provider in Europe, Asia, or the Americas should work. I tested it with two different providers here in the States and it worked perfectly, without any glitches at all.