Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention. After computers and cellphones, we now have a device that has successfully converged both. While most attempts at coming out with a ‘hybrid’ device failed to take off from the drawing board, HTC Advantage may have come closest to success.

This rather interestingly designed mobile device scores high in terms of business functionality, with high-speed global connectivity and PC-style power. Yes, it looks bulky, but will easily fit in your pocket. Though smaller and lighter than a laptop, it’s loaded with the same business and multimedia features. HTC claims this is ‘an essential tool for the upwardly mobile business professional’.

As with most HTC mobile devices, the Advantage employs the Windows Mobile platform (5.0) as well as Direct Push technology to offer functionality similar to the BlackBerry devices. Combined with a full keyboard (complete Qwerty, no combinations or dual-key), this device is hard to ignore if you are looking for a business phone.

Among other details, the Advantage has an eight-hour battery life despite a five-inch VGA colour touch screen. Additional functions include web browsing and an in-built GPS. And to work all this is a massive (by mobile phone standards) 8GB hard drive and a miniSDTM (flash memory card) for storage.

The 3.0 megapixel camera and a second VGA camera allow you to make video calls, add 3G, Wi-Fi and stereo Bluetooth 2.0. Do you call it a mobile phone or a laptop that can make calls?