HTC Touch Diamond smartphone

Global smartphone maker HTC today launched a new smartphone HTC Touch Diamond, priced at Rs 27,500, in partnership with country's largest mobile service provider Bharti Airtel.

The phone which has already been launched in London, Taiwan and Hong Kong, will be available in India by second week of June in 17 cities across the country.

"The companies have entered a strategic tie-up to offer a wide range of services on the phone, including Youtube application for watching video content and access to Airtel live for entertainment," HTC CEO Peter Chou told reporters here.

The product has more than 200 patents showcasing HTC's leadership in innovation. The company (HTC) which had sold 1,00,000 phones in 2007 in India targets to double its sales this year, with a 100 per cent growth trajectory.

"We aim to sell 2,00,000 HTC phones this year marking a 100 per cent increase in our sales. And this percentage sales are excluding the sale of Touch Diamond phones....they will be bonus sale for the company," HTC (India) Country Manager, Ajay Sharma told UNI.

Almost 50,000 units of HTC Touch Diamond will be shipped into the country over next five months, Mr Sharma added. The phone will be available through Airtel and all authorised HTC resellers.

"HTC Diamond will have one touch access to "Airtel Live" giving customers an easy access to download a variety of games, pictures, video clips, movies, ringtones etc. This phone will be available exclusively on Airtel," Bharti Airtel, Mobile Services Executive Director, Syed Safawi said.

Airtel, which has witnessed 39.3 per cent growth QoQ will soon bring Apple's I-phone to India by October that is before Diwali, Mr Safawi added. HTC which has been marketing its phones through Airtel in the country has also joined hands with Reliance Communications in sales of CDMA handsets.