AT&T Joins HTC, Facebook to launch HTC First, designed around Facebook home

AT&T, HTC and Facebook have teamed up to develop and launch the HTC First, the first and only smartphone built to feature Facebook Home, which puts users friends at the heart of your phone.

The hardware is thin, modern and seamless, with soft edges to draw attention to the updates from friends and family on the 4.3-inch glass display. Inside, the smartphone runs Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) with the new Facebook Home experience and incorporates a Qualcomm Snapdrago 400 processor with dual-core CPU and 3G/4G world and multimode LTE.

"Facebook Home is the first mobile experience designed to give you your friends' latest updates right on your home screen and messages that reach you no matter what you're doing," AT&T said in a statement ysterday.

HTC First will be available for pre-order ffrom today for $99.99 with a two-year commitment and available exclusively in AT&T stores and online starting April 12, with pre-ordr bookings available on the facebook home page. 

The HTC First runs on AT&T 4G LTE, claimed to br the fastest 4G LTE network in the US based on independent mobile research firm RootMetrics special report on 4G LTE in the US which notes that AT&T wireless customers in 4G LTE markets that were tested by RootMetrics have access to the fastest mobile speeds on their smartphones. 

''The HTC First will offer the best Facebook Home experience on mobile, right out of the box.  That's why we're committed to this phone and making it exclusive in our stores,'' said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO, AT&T Mobility.  ''Because AT&T offers the fastest 4G LTE** in the nation, it's the best network for Facebook Home.  And the best device for Facebook Home is the HTC First.''

''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.''

"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."

Facebook Home brings users' News Feed to the surface, immediately giving them their preferred content on their smartphone home screen when they turn on the phone without having to open an app or access a mobile website. Just sign into your Facebook account and begin using Home – no need for download or configuration.  Facebook Home connects you directly with your friends, whether it's their real-time updates and newest photo uploads being streamed on your cover feed or the ability to chat with friends without jumping in and out of apps.

HTC First will be available in  : black, white, red and pale blue.