AT&T announces full-touchscreen HTC Freestyle; quick-messaging Brew handset

mobile

Your friends over at AT&T have added a new, full-touchscreen, quick messaging device, based on the Brew mobile platform, to their handset lineup. Say hello to the the HTC Freestyle. The Freestyle sports a 3.2-inch touchscreen display, 3.2 megapixel camera with video recording capabilities, micro-SD card slot (support for up to a 32GB card), 3.5mm headphone jack, stereo Bluetooth, and the HTC Sense UI. The device will cost $99.99 with a signed two-year contract (after a $50 mail-in rebate). The Freestyle will be available in AT&T retail stores and online beginning February 13th. Not sure why you would pay $99 for this HTC set when you can get the Inspire — also launching February 13th – for the same price. Hit the jump to check out the full press release.

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 http://www.att.com/mobilephones-news.

Quotes
“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.

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18 Comments
  • Scott

    No one cares. Where’s the info from the Moto and AT&T Atrix event today?

    • Anonymous

      Remember the CLIQ XT?
      if that phone’s still on 1.5 . . . . . . .

      • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_4KRCOQPRS3FNRWHRCHSI5G4EME Vinny Amador

        Cliq xt, and now the charm, flipout and i1 are now on the abandon list by moto. No updates for you!

      • Anonymous

        exactly my point

  • Anonymous

    Looks like you don’t need a data plan.

    • Whoareu

      Correct. No data plan required. And if you do need one unlimited is only $15, or $10 if you have a shared messaging plan on a family plan. But remember you do need an unlimited messaging plan to buy it.

  • Chocoberry

    Brew MP? FAIL.

    • Anonymous

      Dude not everybody needs/wants a smartphone…some ppl want just a regular phone with some nice features…when did having choices mean something bad? Besides u know those guys are gunna find a way to put Android on this thing.

      • Anonymous

        Plus it still has a full HTML browser, and there are brew apps for youtube, facebook, twitter, google maps, etc

  • http://twitter.com/ChrisInRedDeer Chris A.

    Yeah, but when is it getting Froyo?

  • Anonymous

    This is not considered a “smartphone” so it doesn’t require you to have a $25 2gb plan but at least a $20 text plan. This is like the samsung solstice just with a “sense” like ui and no it will never have froyo or gingerbread or any android os.

  • Anonymous

    And the unlimited data for this phone should be $15. $20 with nav and $40 with unlimited text (for a single line of course)

  • Armadalepoppin

    AT&T know better. That phone is butt ugly….

  • Anonymous

    Finally, an android smartphone with dedicated call and hangup buttons. Glad someone didn’t forget a phone needs to be a phone first!

    • Allen Walker

      Not a smartphone. Pay attention.

    • The Dubious 1

      And it’s not Android either. Reading is fundamental!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_4KRCOQPRS3FNRWHRCHSI5G4EME Vinny Amador

    Wow, an honest to goodness appropriate use for a manufacturer UI. Well done HTC, you should put sense on top of BREW all you want, and offer me androids without it.

  • Sa

    tst

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