In the past, HTC has always done a great job of providing smartphones for everyone, on every carrier, at every price. The Freestyle is an addition to AT&T’s feature-smartphone hybrid lineup that will give consumers an excellent choice at a great price.The Freestyle takes HTC’s classic hardware and combines it with reasonably high-end features in a modestly-priced smartphone offering. With a compact, brushed metal alloy body, it has a clean, sophisticated design. And with a 3.2″ capacitive touch screen, photos, apps and entertainment appear in crystal-clear resolution.
An interesting characteristic of the Freestyle is its lack of Android, and instead, the Brew MP (v. 1.0.2) OS (a basic feature-phone system) with a smooth, yet simple version of Sense UI running overtop. Fans of Sense UI and all of the customization features and easy-to-use functions won’t find any problems with the lack of Android.
With the Friend Stream app, you can keep up with all the social network updates in one easy place. So you always know what’s going on, without actually going on Facebook and Twitter. Since the Freestyle is a one-of-a-kind ‘hybrid’ based device, AT&T’s typical data plan offers are completely optional, you can start with the basics and go from there. With all the built-in apps, wallpapers and widgets to choose from, you can build a phone that works just right for you.
Other specs include a 3.2 MP camera, 320×480 HVGA resolution capacitive touch screen, and a 1300 mAh batter (up to 384 minutes of talk time, 16.2 days of standby). The Freestyle packs a 528 MHz Qualcomm processor, which is high for a feature phone, and 256MB/RAM
What’s so intriguing about this unique ‘hybrid’ device is that HTC is tapping into corner of the marketplace that has previously gone unnoticed. What will HTC find in this undiscovered territory? That remains to be seen.
Looking for more coverage of CES 2011? You’ll love Motorola Xoom Tablet and HTC Inspire Smartphone.
