Ahead of the October 6 launch date for Microsoft’s latest Windows Mobile 6.5 mobile operating system, Verizon Wireless has officially announced the Verizon Wireless HTC Imagio, a slab touchscreen phone that carries the same 3.6-inch resistive touch display as its larger CDMA Touch Pro2 cousin. The Imagio, made by HTC, is seen as a Diamond2 variant with a strong focus on multimedia features.

In earlier leaks, the device was known as the HTC Whitestone, a device with a 3.5 mm headphone jack, large touchscreen WVGA display, and a kickstand. Now, it is known that the kickstand on the back of the device will do double duty as an antenna for Verizon Wireless’ V-CAST live and on-demand TV services; the service will cost an extra $15 per month and will feature shows from such networks as NBC, MTV, Bravo, and others.

The V-CAST equipped handset will be available on October 6 for online orders and will come to Verizon Wireless retail stores on October 20. For those interested in this Windows phone, it will be made available for $199 after a two-year service agreement and a $100 rebate in a form of a debit card.

The HTC Imagio will be a world phone, supporting the Verizon CDMA/EVDO network domestically and GSM/HSPA for international travel. Like the Touch Pro2, it will have Bluetooth, WiFi, and GPS capabilities–hopefully the Imagio won’t demonstrate any GPS lags found on the bigger Touch Pro2.

(via: CNET)