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Being demonstrated this week at CTIA in Orlando, FL, is ZTE’s upcoming D-series 3G mobile phone featuring a Fastap keypad. The phone will be released later this year.

Fastap, not to be confused with self-drilling screws, is essentially a keypad layout where each letter is has its own button on the phone instead of sharing a number button with multiple letters. The letters on this handset are in alphabetical order instead of typing keyboard qwerty layout, though Fastap, created by digit Wireless, is available in qwerty and semi-qwerty layouts on other phones. The ZTE D-Series phone will be available in two models, one with semi-transparent, backlit keys. It will also include Hot keys and next word and phrase prediction in multiple languages via Zi Corporation’s EZiType software.

Besides the keypad, the slim, black flip phone’s features will include:

• CDMA 1X-RTT & EVDO
• MP3, MPEG4 Multimedia Player
• 1.3 Megapixel Camera for video capture and photos
• Sharp & Bright 2.0” TFT Internal LCD & 1” External LCD
• T-Flash Memory
• WAP 2.0
• Java
• Bluetooth
• Data Services capable of 2.4Mbps downlink and uplink of 153.6Kbps
• Polyphonic Ringtones
• Large Volume Phonebook
• gpsOne (Navigation Services)
• MobileTV support
• Size: 50mm x 90mm x 19mm
• Weight: 98 grams

It’s about time a company stepped up and made a phone with dedicated alpha keys. I’m tired of passing by uber pricey PDAs with extra monthly service fees when all I want is a phone with a friggin’ keyboard. I’m tired of trying to type a word and getting a slew of letters thanks to crappy auto-completion/T9 software or having to press a button three times to get one letter. more than one key press to get a letter is just a waste of thumb. Even before I try you, I salute you, Fastap.

Site [Fastap/Digit] Site [ZTA USA]