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HTC unveils 2 Facebook phones

by Sarah Griffiths on 15 February 2011, 11:41

Tags: HTC (TPE:2498)

Quick Link: HEXUS.net/qa4mh

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Let’s dance.

HTC has launched two handsets called the ChaCha and Salsa designed with Facebook in mind.

Both mobiles feature a dedicated Facebook button for one-touch access to the key functions of Facebook that are integrated throughout HTC's Sense UI.

MWC has already seen the launch of one Facebook phone, but HTC's two offerings look like they are designed for more sophisticated customers who are willing to splash a little more cash.

Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation, said: "HTC has always understood that different people want different things and the new HTC ChaCha and Salsa offer special new ways to experience Facebook on a mobile device. With more than 500 million active users worldwide, Facebook has become synonymous with the social web and we wanted to create the ultimate socially connected phones with mass market appeal."  

And Facebook has worked with HTC to come up with the 2 new handsets. Henri Moissinac, head of mobile business for Facebook, said: "We have worked closely with HTC for several years on bringing Facebook to their devices and HTC ChaCha and HTC Salsa are the next stage. HTC has brought Facebook to these two new devices in an innovative way enabling people to connect and share easily whenever they want, wherever they are."

Both handsets sport a ‘Facebook button' which 'gently pulses' with light when there is an opportunity to share content or get updates on the social network.

"With a single press of the button, you can update your status, upload a photo, share a Website, post what song you are listening to, 'check in' to a location and more," said HTC.

It said a user can take a photo and post it to Facebook instantly with the touch of the button, or press it to let friends know you are listening to a certain music track (which is automatically identified) on the phone. In short, it would seem the handset is perfect for over-sharers.

Impressively for social networking orientated phones, both devices feature Android Gingerbread 2.3.3 and use the latest iteration of HTC Sense to integrate Facebook throughout the HTC Sense experience.

HTC said: "When you make a phone call, the dialer screen displays your friend's latest status and photos, and even tells you if their birthday is approaching. The same updates are also displayed when you receive a call from a Facebook friend."

With Facebook widgets available, owners can use Facebook Chat and Messages on their mobiles and they will appear within the handset's standard message stream, which also comprises texts and emails.

The ChaCha has a ‘tilt design' to shape the 2.6 inch 480x320 resolution display and QWERTY keyboard to a helpful angle. It sports a 5MP camera with autofocus and LED flash plus a VGA front-facing camera.

Meanwhile, the Salsa offers a larger screen, measuring 3.4 inches with the same resolution touch display and looks more like the Desire/Wildfire. It too has a 5MP camera and VGA forward-facing camera too for video calling.

Both handsets will hit the shops in Europe and Asia in Q2, and later in the USA exclusively via AT&T. Here is an image.

 


Click for more from MWC 2011

Click for more from MWC 2011




HEXUS Forums :: 4 Comments

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Ooohhhhhh, a facebook button! Now it's not just a phone, it's a facebook phone! Where have these been all my life?!! *swoon*
As much as people will mock this, I know I would use it a lot if my Desire had a Facebook button. I wouldn't use it as a reason to buy a phone, but it would get used if it happened to have one.
That's what shortcut widgets are for.
Shortcut widgets don't pulse with light when you have updates ;)