CrunchGear

More news from CTIA. HTC, purveyors of all things Windows Mobile 5, has announced yet another smartphone. This one, called the Libra, is similar to HTC’s familiar sliding-keyboard smartphones (T-Mobile’s MDA, for example), except that it’s closer in size to their candybar-style phones.

Indeed, next to the 4:3 screen (320 x 240?) on the face is a regular cellphone-style keypad, T9 and function buttons. Turn the unit sideways, however, and a Wizard-style keyboard slides out. While it offers full QWERTY, there are only three rows, so the space bar has been shifted to the right of the M key. It might take some getting used to, but it’s a novel approach to usability. No other specs are available now.

The phone, for CDMA networks (Spring and Verizon), also features EVDO Rev. A, which means it’s fast, data-wise. It should be available next year, and a GSM/UMTS version is sure to follow later.

HTC Libra To Support EVDO Rev. A [Phonescoop]