SMARTPHONE BATTLE: HTC TOUCH PRO2 VS MOTOROLA DROID

The HTC Touch Pro2 was one of the most anticipated Windows Mobile Smartphone to launch. This handset has captivated the attention of Smartphone users since it was announced and is currently being sold by all major carriers. However, the arrival of the Motorola DROID has tempted many loyal Windows Mobile users to try the high-end Android-powered handset.

Both of these handsets are available on the Verizon Wireless network, so it's useful to provide a comparison of these high-end smartphones. Let's examine the specs and capabilities.

Design/Form Factor: Both of these handsets feature the QWERTY slider design that's become more popular in the latest generation of smartphones. The DROID's futuristic design sports sharp edges while the Touch Pro2 offers stylized curved edges. In terms of size, the Touch Pro2 is thicker (17mm and 180g) and a bit heavier than the DROID (14mm and 169g).

Display: The DROID sports a 3.7-inch high-resolution touch screen (440x854 pixels) with 16 million colors. The HTC Touch Pro2 has a slightly smaller display (3.6 inches), less resolution (480 x 800 px) and colors (262,000), but can be adjusted or tilted for enhanced viewing.

Camera: The DROID has better camera specs with a 5.0-megapixel camera with DVD-quality recording (up to 24 fps; D1 720 x 480 px resolution) compared with the shooter on the HTC Touch Pro2 which is equipped with a 3.2-megapixel color camera with auto-focus. However, many users have complained about the DROID's camera, claiming that performance is inconsistent, has trouble focusing with red corners often appearing in some photos. This camera is expected to be fixed via an automatic over-the-air (OTA) update.

Text Entry: These devices are ideal for users who send a lot of text messages and emails because they are equipped with physical QWERTY keyboards. However, some users have expressed that the keyboard on the Touch Pro2 is better because it comes with dedicated number keys and has a larger typing area. The DROID's D-pad consumes a large area which cramps it's QWERTY keypad.

Price: Verizon is selling both of these Smartphones at 199.99 after rebates with a 2 year contract. However, other major carriers are selling the HTC Touch Pro2 at a higher price. For instance, T-Mobile is selling the device at $349.99 with an Even More plan and a contract.

Corporate Email: The HTC Touch Pro2 supports Office Outlook Mobile and Microsoft Exchange with Direct Push while the Motorola DROID offers MS Exchange, GMail, Corporate Calendar (supports Exchange 2003 and 2007 protocol) and Google Calendar.

Battery: The DROID is powered by a 1400 mAh Li-Ion battery with an estimated capacity of 6.42 hours of talk time and 270 hours at standby. The Windows Mobile handset on the other hand is powered by a 1500 mAh Li-Ion battery with a capacity of 4.00 hours of talk time and 336 at standby.

Memory: The Touch offers 288MB of built-in memory with up to 32 GB of expanded memory via MicroSD card slot. The DROID has similar capacity with 256MB of onboard memory with up to 32 GB of expanded memory via MicroSD card slot.

Processor: The DROID runs on a 550 mHz Arm Cortex A8 processor while the Touch Pro2 runs on the equally powerful 528 MHz Qualcomm MSM7600 processor.

Media Format Supported: The HTC Touch Pro2 is equipped with Windows Media Player 10 Mobile and supports MPEG-4, AVI, WAV, MP3, MP4, MIDI, WMV, 3GP, 3G2, and WMA. The Motorola DROID's media player supports AMR-NB/WB, MP3, WAV, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA, MPEG-4, H.263, and H.264.

Conclusion: If you are looking for a handset that excels as a business smartphone, look no further than the HTC TouchPro2.  Without a doubt, this Smartphone caters to the professional on the go.  The Droid offers the more exciting Android OS, but we are not convinced it’s the right fit for executives.  Instead, the Motorola handset offers compelling multimedia and software customization on the evolving Android platform.