The HTC First, the phone on which the Facebook Home user interface will debut, will be available Apr. 12 on AT&T, the same day Facebook Home is available as a downloadable app from the Google Play Store. It is now available for pre-order.
While the First will be available for $99 with a two-year contract, customers can also buy the First without a contract for $450.
The First was built specifically to showcase Facebook Home, so it's not exactly a high-end phone, nor does it command a premium price. While it includes an older version of HTC's own Sense interface, users only see Facebook Home, which integrates features of Facebook into the operation of the phone, according to a press release from AT&T.
* Cover feed: A constant, fresh stream of photos and updates from your newsfeed, cover feed is always present when you wake up your phone. It lets you stay up-to-date on your friends' latest activities in real-time, all the time. You can swipe through to see more photos and updates, double tap to "like" a post and comment right from cover feed. To learn more about cover feed, check out this video.
* Notifications: Notifications from apps and friends appear right on your home screen. It's easier to see when you have a missed call, calendar reminder or new message. Open a notification with a double tap or clear them away to see your Cover Feed. To learn more about notifications, check out this video.
* Chat Heads: The mobile messenger lets you jump in and out of conversations while you do other things, like watch a video and browse the web. Reply right from chat heads, or move them around if you're not ready to respond. Plus you can send and receive texts and Facebook messages from the same spot. To learn more about chat heads, check out this video.
* App Launcher: See your favorite apps and post right to Facebook from the same spot. You choose what's on your app launcher-press and hold an app then drag it anywhere.
* Instagram: HTC First is the only phone that comes with Instagram pre-loaded.
The HTC First features a 1.4GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 4.3-inch 720p Super LCD display, a 5-megapixel camera rear-facing camera, a 1.6-megapixel front-facing camera and runs Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean and Facebook Home.
Check back for the latest information on the HTC First as it becomes available.