Rumors of a new "Facebook phone" created by both the social network and HTC have been floating around since late 2011, claiming that the two companies are prepping a new Android smartphone with a heavy focus the 'Book and its features. Neither Facebook nor HTC have officially confirmed that such a device is in the works, and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerburg has actually shot down the rumors several times, but the mythical device refuses to die. Today a new report claims to have some more details on the HTC-made Facebook phone, alleging that it could finally arrive on AT&T in the coming months.
According to information obtained by Unwired View from a "previously reliable source," this new Facebook phone goes by the codename "HTC Myst #UL" and could arrive in the U.S. in the spring. The handset is said to feature a 4.3-inch 1280x720 display, 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm MSM8960 processor, 5-megapixel rear and 1.6-megapixel front cameras, 16GB storage, 1GB RAM and LTE/HSPA+ connectivity. We're told to expect Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean to be preloaded onto the device, and since this is a Facebook-focused device, several of the social network's will also be included, such as a new version of the Facebook app, Facebook Messenger and the Facebook-owned Instagram.
This HTC Myst phone, if it's real, wouldn't be the first time that HTC and Facebook have collaborated on a device. HTC in 2011 introduced two smartphones with dedicated Facebook buttons that were known internationally as the Salsa and ChaCha, with the latter of the two hitting AT&T here in the U.S. under the name Status. Those handsets never really seemed to gain much traction with consumers, but it's possible that this HTC Myst could fare a bit better if its rumored spec sheet holds true.
While not quite bleeding edge by today's standards, the Myst's feature list makes it sound like a perfectly capable that could appeal to consumers looking for a new smartphone with nice specs and a decently-sized screen. That 4.3-inch 720p display could also make the Myst an attractive phone to folks that are looking for an Android phone with a screen that's smaller than the 5-inch and larger units that are becoming the norm in the high-end range, but still of a fairly high resolution. What do you all make of this rumored HTC Myst Facebook phone? Does it sound like a device that you might be interested in?
Via Unwired View
