AT&T To Sell Brew MP-Based HTC Freestyle Featurephone

At a glance, you may expect that HTC's new phone is another standard smartphone, probably one with Android. But if you actually investigate it, this isn't a "smartphone" by definition. It's a "feature phone," one of the first out on the market with the new Brew MP operating system. Brew itself has been around for years, mostly used on dumbphones in year's past. Now, the HTC Freestyle is bringing a more advanced version of Brew to AT&T's network, being the first "quick messaging phone" to ship with this platform.

The Freestyle is equipped with a 3.2" display (touch-enabled) and includes a full HTML browser, the HTC Sense UX with customizable homescreen, a 3.2MP camera (with video recording), AT&T Navigator, support for 2G/3G data, a microSD card slot, a 3.5mm headphone jack and stereo Bluetooth. It'll go on sale next week for $99.99 on a 2-year contract, which requires an unlimited messaging plan. It's a definite step up from the average dumbphone, but we get the feeling that spending a little more on a legitimate smartphone may be best if you plan on using data on this phone anyway.

HTC Freestyle Available to AT&T Customers on Feb. 13

First AT&T Quick Messaging Phone Based on Brew Mobile Platform

Key Facts

    * AT&T* will begin selling the HTC Freestyle™ on Feb. 13.
    * AT&T’s first quick messaging phone based on Brew® Mobile Platform, the HTC Freestyle, will cost $99.99 after a two-year contract and $50 mail-in rebate beginning Feb. 13 in AT&T company-owned retail stores and online.
    * The HTC Freestyle is the first quick messaging phone to feature the HTC Sense™ experience.

HTC Freestyle

Previously announced at the 2011 AT&T Developer Summit on Jan. 5, the HTC Freestyle™ is the first of a new generation of quick messaging phones from AT&T designed to run on Brew Mobile Platform. By installing Brew MP™ across quick messaging phones, which traditionally have had operating systems specific to each device maker, software developers will be able to write an application and generally be able to offer it to Brew Mobile Platform-based phones from AT&T.  Specifically, Brew MP allows AT&T and developers to more easily offer smartphone-like applications to customers who want a full-featured messaging phone. AT&T plans for future quick messaging phones to operate on Brew MP.

The HTC Freestyle features a premium design with a 3.2-inch touch screen display clad in an aluminum unibody construction. It is also the first quick messaging phone to feature the HTC Sense experience with customizable widgets and FriendStream™ app for social networking integration, a full HTML browser and 3.2-megapixel camera.

 Key features

– Dimensions: 4.2 x 2.2 x .5
– Display: 3.2” Full Touch Screen
– Full HTML Browser
– HTC Sense UX with customizable Homescreen widgets and FriendStream
– 3.2 MP Camera with Video Record
– AT&T Navigator  (Sold separately)
– AT&T Music and AT&T Radio
– UMTS/HSDPA: 850/1900 MHz
– EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
– External Memory Support – MicroSD up to 32GB
– 3.5mm headset jack
– Stereo Bluetooth Capable (v2.0)

Price and Availability

HTC Freestyle™ will cost $99.99 after a two-year contract and $50 mail-in rebate beginning Feb. 13 in AT&T company owned retail stores and online. Requires an unlimited messaging plan. Qualified customers only. HTC Freestyle™ is configured to work only with the wireless services provided by AT&T.

Learn more about HTC Freestyle at www.att.com/mobilephones-news.

“We are excited to add HTC Freestyle to our popular quick messaging device portfolio,” said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president, Devices, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets.  “Between the HTC Sense experience, a multitude of apps through Brew MP and its top-notch construction, the Freestyle is sure to make a splash with customers.”

“With the HTC Freestyle, HTC is pleased to be supporting AT&T’s drive to bring new, enhanced capabilities to their lineup of customer-friendly quick messaging phones,” said Jason Mackenzie, president of HTC Americas.

1: Limited time offer.  Two-year contract required.  Qualified customers only.  Other restrictions apply.   See contract for details. Early Termination Fee up to $150.  HTC Freestyle requires an unlimited messaging plan.  Sales tax calculated based on price of unactivated equipment.  Price for HTC Freestyle before AT&T Promotion Card & with 2 year contract and minimum $20 Messaging Plan  is $149.99. Allow 60 days for fulfillment. Card valid for 120 days wherever major credit cards accepted. May be used to pay wireless bill. Not redeemable for cash and cannot be used at ATMs or gas pumps. Some restrictions and other charges apply. See terms at store or at att.com/wirelessrebate. Card request must be postmarked by March 14, 2011 if purchased on or before February 14, 2011 or May 4, 2011 if purchased between February 15 - April 4, 2011 and you must be customer for 30 consecutive days to receive Promotion Card.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

About HTC
HTC Corporation (HTC) is one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile phone industry and continues to pioneer industry-leading mobile experiences through design, usability and innovation that are sparked by how the mobile phone can improve how people live and communicate. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 2498. For more information about HTC, please visit www.htc.com.