When HTC unveiled its first mobile device, the Shift, to run the full version of Windows (Vista Business) rather than Windows Mobile half a year ago, many thought it wouldn't be long before the original design manufacturer would release the UMPC (Ultra Mobile PC) in the U.S. Unfortunately, the Shift has been "coming soon" ever since, with November being the last estimated time of release to come and go.

A new report strongly implies the Shift may actually be released soon, however. According to Brighthand, HTC is now saying it will release the Shift early next year. Maybe this will happen just in time for January's huge Consumer Electronics Show?

Recently the FCC leaked information indicating HTC would release two versions of the Shift, the original GSM with HTMS/HSPDA 3G model and another for CDMA mobile operators, like Sprint and Verizon, that use EV-DO 3G technology.

The FCC revealed the CDMA/EV-DO version of the shift, like the GSM/UTMS/HSPDA edition, sports 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity.

If the CDMA edition of the Shift is anything like the first Shift model though, the new edition will measure about 8.1 x 5.1 x 1.0 (207 x 129 x 25 millimeters) when closed and weigh in at around 1.7 pounds (800 grams).

It'll also include HTC's proprietary SnapVue shell, a kind of mini-mobile-device platform unto itself, with its own dedicated 400MHz CPU and memory to provide instant access, as Windows Mobile does, to features like e-mail, texting, contacts, e-mail, etc.—all without going through the slow process of booting up the shift's Vista operating system.

SnapVue is also a battery saver, promising a couple of days of standby time. By contrast, using the Shift in Vista mode is only supposed to get you a lowly two hours of power.

The GSM Shift runs on 800MHZ processor, 1GB of RAM and the option of a 40GB or 60GB hard disk drive. There's a fingerprint scanner, which is great for security, a Secure Digital slot for storage expansion, and a GPS receiver for location-based services as well.

Additional features include a 7-inch touch screen, which reveals a full QWERTY keyboard when tilted up or moved to the side.