HTC Aria serves as Android's rival to iPhone 4 on AT&T
updated 09:55 am EDT, Mon June 14, 2010
HTC Aria upgrades ATT's Android line
Google's closest response to the iPhone 4 on AT&T was rolled out today and turns out to be a relatively low-end device. The HTC Aria has Android 2.1 with multi-touch and Sense UI but scales back compared to higher-end world phones like the Legend. It has a 3.2-inch, 480x320 LCD instead of an AMOLED display and uses a five-megapixel camera without a flash.
AT&T can't yet say if the Aria has any of the changes made to the Motorola Backflip, such as changing the search provider to Yahoo or disabling support for non-Market apps.
The Aria's launch is slated to be near that of the iPhone 4 and will have it reach stores on June 20. It will cost significantly less at $130 on contract, but only after a $100 mail-in rebate.
HTC's phone represents just AT&T's second Android phone and its first from HTC itself. It reflects AT&T's continued dependence on the iPhone for much of its success but also a gradual attempt to reduce its emphasis on a single company's products for its smartphone line ahead of a rumored multi-carrier Apple handset. More Android phones are promised for the second half of the year and could include the HTC Desire.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Feb 2008
AT&T + Android???
AT&T is really lagging the rest of the field in Android devices. I wonder how much of that is pressure from Apple b/c I'm sure that there would be plenty of AT&T subscribers (that aren't Apple lovers) that would jump at the chance for a decent Android phone.