HTC not done with non-touchscreens yet, brings S743 to US market

We'd never pegged the S740 as the kind of phone HTC would be looking to bring to the New World; it's an oddball by modern Windows Mobile standards, shucking the touchy, feely trend for a traditional numeric keypad that reminds us of a simpler, more innocent time. Miracles can and do happen from time to time, though -- and on that note we give you the S743, a dead ringer for the S740 that's had its Euro-friendly 3G gutted and replaced with HSDPA 850 / 1900 for North American use. It's got WinMo 6.1 Standard, a 2.4-inch QVGA display, and faceted styling inspired by the Touch Diamond, but the S743's real claim to fame is its slide-out QWERTY keyboard for those moments when triple-tapping and predictive text just aren't going to cut it. Look for this sucker to invade US retailers some time this quarter.

[nanobis @ Jan 6th 2009 8:09AM]

dont look too bad

[Flaystus @ Jan 6th 2009 8:18AM]

For a slider candy bar its a pretty hot looking phone.

[brandon @ Jan 6th 2009 8:27AM]

Anyone know how long it is? My shadow was a big phone, even bigger with the keypad out. I hope it's not just a giant shiny brick

[Kinger @ Jan 6th 2009 9:21AM]

But it looks so thick..

[TRAFFICBLOWS @ Jan 6th 2009 9:45AM]

hur hur that's what she..

nah- not gonna bite, sorry

[Hackettman @ Jan 6th 2009 9:46AM]

You had it just before me......

[OneLove @ Jan 6th 2009 11:49AM]

Now bring TOUCH HD (with keyboard?) to Sprint please!!

[Baozer @ Jan 6th 2009 8:16AM]

I've actually been looking for a phone like this. (HTC Touch Pro is a little too pricey for me)
In my opinion it looks like a more classy version of a LG Rumor/Scoop.

[Sevenmack @ Jan 6th 2009 8:35AM]

Definitely Baozer. I currently own a Blackberry Storm and a Samsung Rant. The latter is a really sweet phone and much better-looking (as well as more capable and useful as a BB substitute) than the Rumor. But if I can get my hands on a CDMA version of this, I will gladly fork over the cash for it. Hopefully Sprint will actually try to put this in their lineup, if they are smart.

[anus1220 @ Jan 6th 2009 11:35AM]

i was just gonna say if there is a cdma version, i am so on it. but sadly i'm sure verizon won't pick this up.
and i am in love with it because it's not a smartphone and it's not an iphone.
iphone's are too wide for me, i was looking for a candy bar phone that performs beautifully and i love hardware qwerty keyboards so this is perfect (along with the n97)

[DP @ Jan 6th 2009 12:48PM]

Second the Sprint notion. TP is nice but too much, plus this phone is smaller, less expensive, and looks extremely classy. Make it happen Sprint!

[Shahryar @ Jan 6th 2009 3:36PM]

Add me to the people who want this for Sprint. I have Sprint as my secondary phone (main phone's an N76 w/ T-mobile) which I do more typing-intensive stuff on (documents, etc). With the Mogul (which is terrible for many reasons), having no front keypad means I have to pull they keyboard out anytime I want to do something with it. With this S743 though (or any phone really w/ a front keypad), I could still use the phone on the go with the front keypad/T9 and open it up to use the QWERTY when I'm able. Please Sprint, please.

[orangecat @ Jan 6th 2009 4:02PM]

@ Sevenmack: You forgot to say that the Rumor is a piece of crap.

[That Fender Strat Guy @ Jan 6th 2009 8:25AM]

Most pointless variant of the 'Touch' series yet. Go for the Pro or HD instead - bigger screens to start with.

[RioRyan @ Jan 6th 2009 8:41AM]

Which part of "non-touchscreen" didn't you understand? If you're not gonna read the article, at least read the damn title.

[chefgon_ign @ Jan 6th 2009 8:43AM]

I think you've missed the point of this phone. This thing isn't intended to compete with the $350 (on contract) Touch Pro. This thing is a low-end competitor with other WinMo Standard phones like the Motorola Q and the Samsung Blackjack. Probably intended for business users and people who aren't interested in all the bells and whistles of a high-end smartphone.

[That Fender Strat Guy @ Jan 6th 2009 10:03AM]

Pfft... non-touch is just *another* reason why this is Fail, condensed into a palm-sized plop and sold for too much.

If you love your crapgadgets so much, go buy it. Go, monkeys, go!

[Brad @ Feb 5th 2009 8:03PM]

Not everyone wants a touchscreen. Not everyone wants a big phone.

This phone isn't for you. That's fine, don't buy it.

Usually by the age of 3, people figure out that everything in the world isn't specifically designed for them, built with them in mind, or written to them. Some people don't ever figure this out. I think you are one of those people.

[htd @ Jan 6th 2009 8:34AM]

2.4" QVGA... :(

[Will H. @ Jan 6th 2009 8:38AM]

No HTC Touch HD for you!

[eric @ Jan 6th 2009 8:55AM]

This thing is a stud.

Verizon + Android, please.

[Pete W @ Jan 6th 2009 9:07AM]

I concur with eric. That phone is sexy sweet. Gotta love QWERTY slide outs too.

[Eric @ Jan 6th 2009 9:41AM]

Oooh, please please please make a CDMA version!

[Hackettman @ Jan 6th 2009 9:48AM]

I like my touchscreen with the keyboard..........

[bandigolo @ Jan 6th 2009 12:56PM]

sexy, but why not just get the Touch Pro if you want an HTC WinMo slider?

- Touch Diamond owner

[shugg @ Jan 6th 2009 2:42PM]

wow add to a long list of failed "iphonekillers" .,next!!!!!!!!!

[josearoldan @ Jan 6th 2009 3:19PM]

Looking for food iTroll? Come on you know you are! Nowhere in the article they mention an iPhone killer. You people always seem to read that whenever a non-apple phone is announced!

[Landon @ Jan 6th 2009 6:32PM]

He's just a dee dee deeee....

[Captain Drew @ Jan 6th 2009 3:01PM]

What's funny is, some of us luddites still prefer physical devices. Yes, I want an iPhone (but I want it with at least 32GB and proper voice-dialing capabilities) but my design aesthetics are rooted in the "black tech" of the early 90s. My occupation requires that I be able to operate devices in situations that preclude staring at a viewscreen.

The argument is essentially this: have you ever operated a device that didn't require you to watch it at the same time? Perhaps a radio control on your automobile, or a button on a television remote control. Something that you're able to release to "muscle memory" to accomplish, allowing you to give your vision over to some other task.

The Industrial Design industry will eventually look back at this age of design as being very unfriendly to tactile design.

I'm going to go press a large number of buttons now, and won't look at a one of them.

So there.

[Shahryar @ Jan 6th 2009 3:32PM]

Agreed, I love being able to text on my N76 (my phone) on its keypad via T9 without looking period. A phone with a QWERTY keyboard seems 2nd place as it still requiring some concentration, but not much. However you do need two hands and that's annoying if you're carrying something, driving (which is wrong, yes), etc. That's why I'll always prefer a keypad T9 on my primary phone.

I could never do Touchscreen on a phone - it's just too hard and annoying for those of us who have any real texting needs. I do have an iPod Touch 32gb and love it though - (would love it more if I could have a permanent data solution to it). The touchscreen is fine for there.

[Generic @ Jan 6th 2009 5:53PM]

Since I don't use high-end smartphones anyway I think this is perfect for me. The thing that I hate the most is having to send a long email using non-qwerty keys on my mobile phone. I see my salvation. Thank you Jes.., HTC.

[Electromancer @ Jan 6th 2009 8:12PM]

I just read an article in PC World saying that the phone will be sold unlocked so it won't have subsidized carrier pricing. Basically it will cost $600-$700. Personally, that's way beyond my budget especially since I recently upgraded to the Samsung A827 (Access).