At the launch of its mobile interface layer called Facebook Home, Facebook along with HTC announced the launch of the HTC First, the first smartphone built to feature Home out of the box.
The HTC First features a 4.3-inch touch screen display that has a resolution of 720x1280 pixels. The phone is powered by a 1.4GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 (MSM8930AA) processor and has 1GB of RAM. It's got a 5-megapixel rear camera and a 1.6-megapixel front camera. The rear camera is capable of recording 1080p video. The phone features 16GB of internal storage but does not have a memory card slot for expanding storage capacity. It has a 2,000mAh non-removable battery. The phone runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean with Facebook Home. The HTC First will be available in four colors: black, white, red and pale blue.
"HTC has a track record of providing beautiful hardware design, and of being first-to-market with smartphone innovations," said Peter Chou, CEO, HTC Corporation. "The HTC First continues that track record, providing AT&T customers with a unique home experience that puts a user's friends and family at the center of their mobile experience."
In further continuation of the Facebook theme, HTC First will be the first phone to come pre-installed with Facebook's Instagram, the popular image-sharing app/ social network.
"Home is a completely new experience for your phone," said Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's Founder and CEO. "With Home available right out of the box, you're getting the best quality experience for connecting with your friends."
The HTC First is available for pre-order for $99.99 with a two-year contract with AT&T in the US and will be available starting April 12. AT&T's website lists the HTC First's regular price as $449.99 (without contract). The phone will be launched exclusively with Orange in France and EE in the UK. The exact dates of the Europe launch have not been announced. There are no details on the phone's availability in India.
HTC First Specifications:- 4.3-inch display with a resolution of 720x1280 pixels
- 1.4GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 (MSM8930AA) processor
- 1GB of RAM
- 16GB of internal memory
- 5-megapixel rear camera
- 1.6-megapixel front camera
- WLAN 802.11 a / b / g / n and Bluetooth 4.0/ LTE
- Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)