Prior to Mobile World Congress 2011, there was much speculation that HTC and Facebook would team up to launch a 'Facebook Phone'. There were then two devices announced at MWC 2011, the HTC ChaCha and the HTC Salsa. While these could both be regarded as Facebook phones, the social-networking giant has proclaimed that a true Facebook phone would be built on its own operating system. However, before such a device is released, smartphones such as the HTC ChaCha will undoubtedly be given the tag of a 'Facebook Phone'.



So what is different about the HTC ChaCha to qualify it as a so-called Facebook phone? Firstly, there's the dedicated Facebook button, which allows instant sharing of photos, videos and music. The new HTC smartphone also features deeper integration between Facebook and the Android operating system. A range of Facebook widgets provide quick access to features that make it easier than ever to stay in touch with friends and family.



Of course, the avid social-networker will do a lot of typing and this is supported by the portrait QWERTY keyboard of the HTC ChaCha. Whether it's a status that needs updating, an email that needs sending or a text message that needs writing, the superb design of this HTC-Facebook combination is there to accommodate speedy text entry. However, it's not only the keyboard, but also the lipped form factor, that makes the HTC ChaCha feel so good in the hand.



Being an HTC Android smartphone, the ChaCha features HTC Sense. This custom Android skin offers a range of features that improve the usability of the handset; messages, calls and updates are arranged by people, as opposed to applications, while a friend's latest status update is displayed at the beginning of an incoming call. Applications such as HTC Friend Stream combine perfectly with the ChaCha's Facebook-centric design to offer a superb Android experience for today's social butterfly.



Software aside, how does the ChaCha measure up in terms of hardware specification? The new smartphone from HTC runs on a 600 MHz processor, with 512MB RAM and 512MB ROM, giving it plenty of power for its social-networking duties. For text input and navigation, there's not only the QWERTY keyboard, but also a 2.6-inch touchscreen. Adding to the functionality of this slim-line beauty is a 3.5mm headphone jack, a microSD card slot, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and an internal GPS antenna.



With the ability to share photos at the push of the button, it also makes sense to have a decent camera on the handset. For this reason, the ChaCha comes with a 5MP camera with auto focus and flash.



Clove Technology stocks the latest HTC Smartphones and accessories. The HTC ChaCha is due to go on sale later this year.



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