HTC Magic, Now In Malaysia

When the Android was launched (a year back), it was branded as the iPhone killer. With it’s backing from HTC, T-Mobile and Google, nothing seems to be wrong, not until a month later. The hype was there but the devices were never to be seen. Getting hold of a unit was basically “a pain in the toot”. Now, with the Android phones going abroad from American soil, it has now hit Malaysia, officially. The HTC Magic, the first Android Powered Device in Malaysia, collaboration with Celcom as the official Telco.

The first thought I had the first time I touched the phone was, “light, simple, easy”. Not many mobile devices can impress me, and I have to say, the only one till date that got me captured is the iPhone, as it is simple, elegant and practical. I used a G1 a couple months back, and that is one clunky, heavy, bulky device. So, the only phone to kill the iPhone seems to be the iPhone, but then again, what about the Magic?

The HTC Magic holds a 3.2″ HVGA touch screen display, a trackball (much like the Bold), 3.2 Mega-Pixel camera and a GPS chip for the infamous map application.

I’ve used the web browser on one of the booths and I have to say, Magical. It is just simple and easy, and guess what, Java Supported!

So now, let’s look at the HTC Magic Spec List:

Processor : Qualcomm® MSM7200A™, 528 MHz

Operating System : Android

Memory : ROM – 512MB

RAM – 288MB

Dimensions : 113mm(L) x 55.56 (W) x 13.65 mm (T)

Weight : 116g (With Battery)

Display : 3.2-inch TFT-LCD flat touch-sensitive screen with 320×480 HVGA resolution

Network : HSPA/WCDMA: 900/2100 MHz, up to 2 Mbps up-link and 7.2 Mbps down-link speeds

Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz

Device Control : Trackball with Enter button

GPS : Internal Antenna

Connectivity : Bluetooth® 2.0 with EDR and A2DP, Wi-Fi®: IEEE 802.11 b/g, HTC ExtUSB™ (11-pin mini-USB 2.0 and audio jack in one)

Camera : 3.2 megapixel color camera with auto focus

Audio supported formats : AAC, AAC+, AMR-NB, MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC-LC, MIDI, OGG

Video supported formats : MP4, 3GP

Battery : Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery
Capacity: 1340 mAh
Talk time:
•    Up to 400 minutes for WCDMA
•    Up to 450 minutes for GSM
Standby time:
•    Up to 660 hours for WCDMA
•    Up to 420 hours for GSM

Expansion Slot : microSD™ memory card (SD 2.0 compatible)

AC Adapter : Voltage range/frequency: 100 ~ 240V AC, 47/63 Hz
DC output: 5V and 1A

Special features : G-sensor
Digital Compass(3rd party software is needed)

Value Added Applications : Microsoft® Exchange synchronization for email, calendar and contacts, PDF Viewer, Quick Office,  Smart Dialer, SlideME Application Manager and Teeter game.

Press Release after the Jump: -

Press Release:

Malaysia – 5 June 2009 — HTC Corporation, a global leader in mobile phone innovation and design, together with Celcom (Malaysia) Berhad, a leading telecommunication company, today unveiled the first Android-Powered mobile phone, the HTC Magic. A tablet-style device, with a sleek design and unprecedented compactness for a smartphone featuring the Android platform, the HTC Magic enables a superior mobile internet experience.

Further enhanced with Outlook synchronization, Smart Dialer, and an onscreen keyboard with predictive text, the HTC Magic is a true entertainment and communication powerhouse.

Providing broad flexibility for personalization
The HTC Magic has a 3.2” HVGA touch screen display and features a trackball for easy access, a 3.2 mega-pixel camera and GPS. It provides full fidelity PC browsing experience, where users can expand and personalize their phone to fit their lifestyle.

“The HTC Magic embodies the compact style and sophistication for which HTC has come to be known, with the powerful and intuitive internet experience for which the Android platform was designed,” says Peter Chou, president and CEO, HTC Corporation.

“The introduction of the HTC Magic is the result of a successful relationship between Celcom and HTC. For the first time, we have come together to offer this new and exciting phone to our customers where they will be the first to feel the magic of the first-Android powered device in Malaysia. With the advent of Android platform, coupled with Celcom undisputed network coverage, this becomes a perfect combination to help those living life on the fast lane to maintain a successful work and an exciting social lifestyle,” added Mr. Chee Pok Jin, Chief Marketing Officer of Celcom (Malaysia) Berhad.

Superior support and unbeatable mobile internet experience
HTC Magic features a trackball with zoom in/out function. It also provides fit the width rendering, and auto screen rotation for easy navigation and internet browsing.

Simply Better
HTC Magic is now enhanced with cool HTC goodies like Smart Dialer and a versatile on-screen keyboard. Smart Dialer lets you call people in whatever way you think, by either dialing their phone number or by dialing the first few letters of their name. The versatile keyboard lets you choose your favorite way to type and the predictive text completion helps you write faster than you can finish your thoughts.

Choose Your Connections
Take your inbox or inboxes with you wherever you go. HTC Magic makes it worry-free with easy account set up, multiple mailbox support and Microsoft Exchange server synchronization for email, calendar and contacts. Simply put, with HTC Magic, you can always keep your personal and office emails flowing.

Pricing & Availability:
The new HTC Magic will be available from 15 June 2009 at all participating Blue Cubes outlets at a suggested retail price of RM 2,699. Standard retail HTC Magic package will come with an 8GB microSD™ card.

The HTC Magic will be available at all authorised resellers from mid July 2009. Standard retail HTC Magic package will come with an 2GB microSD™ card.

*All prices are subject to pricing policies of individual operators.

About HTC
Founded in 1997, HTC Corporation (HTC) is a global leader in mobile phone innovation and design. Since its establishment, HTC has developed strong R&D capabilities, pioneered many new designs and product innovations and launched state-of-the-art mobile phones for mobile operators and distributors in Europe, the US, Asia and around the world. HTC is one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile device market. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 2498. For more information about HTC, please visit www.htc.com.
About Celcom (Malaysia) Berhad
Celcom (Malaysia) Berhad is now the country’s most experienced and premier mobile cellular telecommunications company with over 9 million    customers. It currently has the widest network coverage covering 98% of the
populated areas in the country. It was the first to launch 3G services in    Malaysia and has the widest 2G, 3G and 3.5G coverage in the country.     Celcom was also recently awarded the Mobile Service Provider of the Year   and the much coveted Service Provider of the Year at the 2009 Frost &    Sullivan Malaysian Telecom Awards.
Celcom offers international roaming service in 141 countries and over 380   networks worldwide. It currently offers mobile telephony services in Malaysia
for postpaid and prepaid products under the 013, 019 and 0148 access    codes. Celcom is an Axiata Company.

For more information on Celcom, log on to http://www.celcom.com.my