HTC unveils new SmartPhone, Rhyme

Taiwan's HTC has unveiled another smartphone called the Rhyme which features a blinking "charm" that attaches to a bag to let a user know if they have received a call or a message.

The Android-powered Rhyme will go on sale in the United States on September 29. It will cost $199 and will be available through Verizon Wireless.

The device has a 3.7-inch screen, a single-core 1 GHz CPU, a 5-megapixel camera, 768 MB of RAM and 4 GB of storage space.

It runs Android 2.3 with Sense 3.5 and comes with the usual extras, including WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS and a microSD slot for memory expansion. What makes it a bit different from all the Androids on the market is its tiny case and purple color.

Also, the device is coming with a host of accessories, including the HTC Rhyme Charm, a gizmo that attaches to the phone and glows when you receive a call or text message.

The Rhyme, which runs the latest version of Google's Android software known as Gingerbread, will go on sale in Europe and Asia in October.

Taiwan's leading smartphone maker stressed the "style" and accessories for the plum-colored device at a launch event in Manhattan.

"Like your glasses, your wallet, your belt or that special bag, the smartphone or the phone expresses who you are as an individual," said HTC's vice president of design, Scott Croyle.

"You want a phone that's handcrafted with style, you want it to be intuitive, you want it to be less than a device and more of a companion," Croyle said.

The Rhyme comes with a tethered accessory called a "charm" that blinks when a user receives a message or a call. "It's more respectful than a ring and more noticeable than vibrate," HTC said.

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