Sprint confirms it's adding two HTC Touches to its 3G arsenal

The HTC Touch Pro smartphone, coming next month in the US to Sprint.

While Verizon Wireless has been busy with its ongoing campaign to convince you that "it's the network," Sprint -- whose network has not been its strong point in recent years -- is placing new bets today that it's really the phone.

Just in time for the CTIA show, Sprint has officially confirmed that it is adding two of the most intriguing new Windows Mobile-based HTC Touch phones to its lineup of 3G touchscreen smartphones, which already includes the original HTC Touch and the best-selling Samsung Instinct.

The Touch Diamond, which premiered last May, will go on sale later this month in the US for $249.99 (after the $100 rebate). It has a 2.8-inch screen and 3.2 megapixel camera. For $50 more, the Touch Pro adds an expandable microSD storage slot and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard; it goes on sale October 19.

Easily the most intriguing feature of both these new models is what HTC calls the TouchFLO interface, which is the manufacturer's spin on a method of making touchscreen gestures more intuitive and functional. The TouchFLO environment is rendered in 3D, so stored pictures, e-mails, and messages can be flipped through as though they really did live behind this miniature pane of glass. Sliders are big, prominent arrows that are not only receptive to touch, but to the amount of force the user's finger is applying; so spinning through a Rolodex-like array of pictures can be accomplished with a shove or a flick of the finger.

Obviously this functionality was inspired by the Apple iPhone's approach to flipping through contacts lists, where speed and force are both fully registered. But HTC's approach is to make that force more visible through 3D, in a compelling way that makes the user feel their phones are more receptive to them.

The addition of both Touch models will raise Sprint's position in the 3G smartphone stakes. New customers making their evaluations will be thinking like this: AT&T has the fashion advantage with the iPhone 3G, although connectivity on that model has suffered in recent days. Verizon Wireless will tout the reliability of "the network" as its strong point, although it's not only offering Samsung's Glyde phone (perhaps not as suave as the Instinct, but comparable feature-wise) but also the innovative LG Dare. The Dare may not have the screen real estate as other models, but VZW touts its UI as a principal feature as well, noting its innovative use of drag-and-drop to, for instance, move an open item or document to a tile that represents a function.

Sprint's Instinct was already a much needed shot-in-the-arm for the carrier whose comeback strategy new CEO Dan Hesse has made very clear to customers. Now, the carrier may be hoping that when customers try out the TouchFLO operating methodology in its stores over the coming months, they may call into question just what's supposed to make the iPhone so outstanding, besides its marketing?