Looking beyond an iPhone and Blackberry

Apple's iPhone may have broken the mould when it came to transforming mobile phones, but several years on, the Californian company's formerly trend-setting product is being increasingly threatened by newer and more advanced models on the scene. One case in point is the HTC Desire series, based on Google's innovative Nexus One model.



The HTC Desire Z is of particular interest to those looking for a multi-purpose smartphone, combining the ease of use and fun features of products like the iPhone improved browsing and messaging/typing capabilities to rival those of the BlackBerry. This is partly thanks to the phone's inclusion of a physical keyboard, which pivots out from the handset to offer a more practical method for firing off messages and working on documents than a virtual equivalent.



This new Desire model's achievements extend beyond a Qwerty keyboard though. Its dominating 3.7-inch AMOLED touchscreen makes it ideal for all forms of web access, including streaming videos in high definition, and beats the iPhone's 3.5-inch LED screen. On the theme of high definition, the Desire's five-megapixel camera is ideal for snapping professional-looking photos on the move, and comes complete with automatic flash.

Beyond the hardware, there's a lot to get excited about with the HTC Desire Z. The phone runs on the latest version of Google's mobile operating system, Android 2.2, and combines functionality with HTC Sense to make it easier to connect with friends via email and social networks, offering advantages in many areas over Apple's iOS 4.



When it comes to sheer power and battery life though, the HTC and iPhone are relatively equally matched, thanks to them both boasting 1 GHz processors. Despite their different designs - the Desire making use of Qualcomm's Snapdragon system, compared to Apple's ARM Cortex - they're both capable of doing everything you could ask from a smartphone. Their batteries also offer a similar life expectancy, at around seven hours of 3G calling and over 300 hours standby. However, the Desire offers greater storage capacity, including the option of using removable microSD cards.



Don't forget that HTC's partnership with Google also means that the Mountain View company's extensive suite of tools and software is readily at your disposal when you buy Android phones, which can also put them ahead of Apple's products. As the leaders in the smartphone field keep on pushing the envelope, consumers will continue to enjoy the benefits of ever more advanced and competitive products, meaning sticking loyally to one brand could limit your horizons significantly.