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Photos: Cingular 8525 (a.k.a. HTC Hermes)

The Cingular 8525 (a.k.a. HTC Hermes) has generated its fair share of buzz in recent months and with good reason. It's the carrier's first 3G-enabled smart phone, and it's fast. Check out the photos here.

CNET Reviews staff

Nov. 6, 2006 9:19 a.m. PT

CNET Reviews staff

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1 of 11 CNET Networks

The Cingular 8525 is the carrier's first HSDPA/UMTS smart phone, so you should enjoy broadband-like connection speeds on this device. In other words, it's fast.

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2 of 11 CNET Networks

... but it's also a phone. The Cingular 8525 is a full-featured smart phone running Windows Mobile 5 Pocket PC Phone Edition and sports a 2.8-inch touch screen.

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3 of 11 CNET Networks

The right side of the device hosts the power on/off button, a shortcut to the Communication Manager, and a camera activation button.

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4 of 11 CNET Networks

On the bottom of the 8525, you have an infrared port, a battery release switch, a reset hole, and a mini USB port.

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5 of 11 CNET Networks

Pocket PC phones have a tendency to be clunky and unwieldy, but the Cingular 8525 is actually quite manageable. It has a solid construction and feels comfortable to hold.

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6 of 11 CNET Networks

Though you get the standard array of navigation buttons, the controls and layout are fairly cramped so take care not to press the wrong key.

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7 of 11 CNET Networks

At 6.2 ounces, the Cingular 8525 is on the heftier side, so it'll add some weight to your bag. The smart phone also comes packaged with a belt holster.

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8 of 11 CNET Networks

The Cingular 8525 boasts a fairly spacious QWERTY keyboard with tactile buttons for easy messaging. However, the two soft keys above it are a bit too close to the slide-up cover.

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9 of 11 CNET Networks

The smart phone features a handy scroll wheel (a la BlackBerry), so you can easily navigate the 8525 with one hand. Nice. There's also a push-to-talk key, but this feature won't be activated until early 2007.

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10 of 11 CNET Networks

Though the micro SD format isn't widespread, we still appreciate the expandable media.

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11 of 11 CNET Networks

The Cingular 8252 one-ups its predecessor, the Cingular 8125, with its 2-megapixel camera. There's also a built-in flash, a self-portrait mirror, and a lever to switch to macro mode for close-up shots.

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