HTC Corp., a fast-growing Taiwanese handset manufacturer, said this week it will start selling its latest smartphone in June -- a move that is widely expected to pose a threat to Apple Inc.’s iPhone.

HTC's new mobile device, dubbed “Touch Diamond,” will include a touch-screen display and applications for viewing content from Web sites such as YouTube and Google Maps, Peter Chou, president and CEO of HTC, said in a statement. The company also promises "game-changing" Internet connectivity and a captivating mobile interface called "TouchFLO" that claims to set a new benchmark for phone sophistication and shape consumer expectations for how a mobile phone can be used.

Powered by Windows Mobile 6.1, the current HTC Touch is 11.5 mm thick, making it even thinner than the iPhone. With a 2.8 inch display that allows users to zoom in on content with the touch wheel or tilt it by turning it on its side, the Touch also includes a 3.2 megapixel camera and 4 GB of storage.

The company said it has sold more than three million handsets worldwide with its first model in less than a year. The company now projects sales for Touch Diamond to top two million units for the remainder of 2008.

All three major Canadian carriers -- Rogers Communications, Telus Corp. and Bell Canada -- carry HTC phones. But an official release date in Canada for Touch Diamond has not been announced.

Recent reports have suggested that Apple is getting ready to unveil its next-generation iPhone as early as this summer. Consumers can even expect to see up to three new designs coming out of Apple.

[network.nationalpost.com]