WITH the launch of the iPhone 3G in Singapore, many other smartphones have been sidelined, with the possible exception of HTC Touch phones.

The Taiwan-made and designed phones with TouchFLO 3D technology have held their own against the much-vaunted iPhone.

The HTC Diamond, which came out 11/2 months before the iPhone, has had a good run.

Its latest incarnation, the HTC Touch Pro, has a five-row slide-out QWERTY keyboard, and addresses the concerns of some users who prefer the touch and feel of a real keyboard, compared to an onscreen one.

The addition of a keyboard has made the device thicker, but not so much as to deter users.

It is essentially an HTC Diamond with all its functionalities and a keyboard for easier data input.

How much: $1,248 without plan