Orange has announced the shipping dates for the HTC Shift

Orange said it will be the first UK carrier to offer the HTC Shift, which blends the features of a laptop and a wireless PDA, from the end of February. But at £999 with a data tariff, the Shift is pricey when compared with standard sized laptops, even those with a built-in 3G broadband connection.

First announced nearly a year ago, the Shift resembles a miniature laptop with a 7in 800 x 480 display and qwerty keyboard, and runs Windows Vista Business edition. However, users can view SMS text messages, emails, calendar and contacts without having to boot into Windows, a feature called HTC SnapVue.

Orange said it will ship the Shift with Microsoft Office pre-installed, enabling users to create and edit documents while on the move. The device has support for both 3G / HSDPA mobile networks, plus 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi.

Nick Horton, Head of Business Devices for Orange UK, said the Shift perfectly balances both personal and business needs. He added that its portable design and ability to connect via both Wi-Fi and the Orange mobile network meant customers did not need to be in the office to keep up to date with their work.