‘Facebook phone’ confirmed by HTC: ChaCha and Salsa officially unveiled -

ChaCha and Salsa will feature branded Facebook buttons while new 7” Flyer Tablet also includes a pen for writing notes

                                    Image 1 - HTC's Android Flyer tablet includes a pen and integration with gaming and video services

                                         Image 2 - HTC's Salsa phone is the first mobile to feature a branded Facebook button

The first phones to feature a dedicated Facebook button have been confirmed by mobile maker HTC. Much-rumoured, ChaCha and Salsa will allow instant access to the popular social network via the button. Although not official ‘Facebook phones’, HTC and Facebook both said they had cooperated closely on the devices. Salsa is a touchscreen phone while ChaCha will also feature a keyboard.

Peter Chou, CEO of HTC, said that “we wanted to create the ultimate socially connected phones with mass market appeal”, while Henri Moissinac, Facebook’s Head of Mobile Business, said “We have worked closely with HTC for several years on bringing Facebook to their devices and HTC ChaCha and HTC Salsa are the next stage.”

The two Android-based devices will run on Gingerbread, the latest version of the operating system and offer a level of Facebook integration that has so far only been seen on INQ’s new Facebook models announced last week.

The Facebook button will be ‘context aware’, offering different function depending on what the user is doing. It will allow instant sharing of photographs or music from the phone. Status updates and information will also be displayed if the phone identifies a caller as a user’s Facebook friend.

HTC hopes the integration of Facebook will appeal to a generation of new consumers who use the site more than email and run their social calendars through Facebook’s events functions.

The company also announced a 7” tablet, the Flyer, that features an Apple-style ‘unibody’ Aluminium case. It also includes a pen which, for instance, can integrate recording sound with taking notes by hand so that lectures can be synchronised with notes. A video download service, integration with Skype and cloud-gaming OnLive and an enhanced version of HTC’s sense interface were also unveiled, along with updates to the Wildfire and Desire models.

All the products will be available in the UK in the second quarter of 2011. The Flyer will initially be sold running Gingerbread but will be upgraded to Google's tablet-specific operating system Honeycomb after it is released.

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Apple files patent complaint against phone maker HTC !!

Apple has accused the smartphone maker HTC of infringing its patents, in the latest phase of the legal battle between phone and tablet PC makers.

Apple has filed a complaint against the US International Trade Commission (ITC) seeking an inquiry by the panel into the matter.

The news comes just weeks after Apple and Samsung accused each other of copying designs and technology.

HTC is the world's third-biggest mobile phone maker, by stock market value.

However, HTC has denied Apple's allegations.

"HTC is dismayed that Apple has resorted to competition in the courts rather than the market place," said Grace Lei, HTC's general counsel.

Growing rivalry

The launch of products like iPhone and iPad saw Apple become the market leader in the smartphone and tablet PC market.

Apple's success in quickly securing a large slice of the market, with fashionable products enjoying good demand from consumers, prompted several rivals to launch their own gadgets hoping to win a share of the fast-growing market.

However, that resulted in relations between Apple and its rivals souring as the competition grew.

Last year the American technology company filed a similar complaint against HTC accusing it of infringing as many as 20 of its patents.

That prompted HTC to launch a counter attack, claiming that Apple was guilty of infringing patents held by the Taiwanese company.

HTC went to the extent of seeking a ban on sales of iPhones, iPads and iPods in the United States.

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