HTC's Dopod to launch Athena UMPC-phone 'next week'

HTC subsidiary Dopod will launch the device maker's Athena UMPC-like PDA phone next week, Dopod's president has revealed hot on the heels of the early appearance of the T-Mobile version of the device, dubbed the Ameo.

Dopod's version of Athena matches will be called the U1000, Dopod president Jack Tong said in an interview with Taiwanese newssite DigiTimes. Tong confirmed the spec that leaked out earlier this week: Athena's 5in display, 8GB hard drive, HSDPA 3G connectivity, three megapixel digicam and 624MHz XScale processor.

Unnamed sources cited by the report suggest Athena will come to the US through a deal with Cingular. In Europe it's almost certain to appear under the HTC brand as well as the T-Mobile incarnation. HTC supplies smart phones to carriers Orange and Vodafone, so it's possible they too will offer the UMPC-esque handheld.