Hasta La Gadget!

You will soon have another Android 2.1 smartphone option in the next couple of months: The HTC Desire is coming in August. It is expected to be almost identical to the Google Nexus One, although it will be available directly from wireless carriers.

The HTC Desire will have the same 1-GHz Snapdragon processor as the Nexus One, and will also feature a large 3.7-inch capacitive touch screen but it also adds the excellent HTC Sense user interface overlay. Unlike the Nexus One, the Desire will have an optical sensor for navigation instead of a track ball.

As with other HTC phones, the Desire will likely come with HTC’s upgraded applications such as the Friend Stream social networking app that integrates Facebook, Flickr, and Twitter, as well as the HTC News Reader application. Other potential features will likely include a five megapixel camera with LED flash, GPS, and Wi-Fi wireless networking. HTC has already said that the device will be “flash ready” when it ships later this year.

Final specifications, pricing details, and carrier information has not yet been announced. It seems likely that the HTC Desire may be offered by some of the smaller regional carriers, though no further information has been released at this time.

View photos of the HTC and read Sascha Segan’s hands-on impressions from the Mobile World Congress at PCMag.com.