Best Buy gets exclusive launch of Wi-Fi HTC Flyer tablet

By Geoff Duncan March 23, 2011

it’s no secret that mobile device maker HTC is getting into the Android tablet game, and as that day approaches the company is lining up retail partners to make sure its gizmos get into consumers hands. American electronics retailer Best Buy has just announced that it will be the exclusive retail launch partner for the Wi-Fi HTC Flyer Android tablet—although the company isn’t yet offering any pricing information, or saying anything more definite than “spring” for when the device may go on sale.

HTC Flyer (March 2011) — Image used with permission by copyright holder

“Over the past few months we’ve seen several new tablets enter the market, and we’re especially excited to partner with HTC to bring the Wi-Fi version of the HTC Flyer to our customers as a national retail launch exclusive,” said Best buy Mobile head of merchandising Scott Anderson, in a statement. “We have worked hard to bring a large assortment of great tablets to Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile stores, and the HTC Flyer is a great example of that effort.”

The HTC Flyer runs an unspecified version of Google’s Android operating system with HTC’s Sense interface layered over the top: industry reports have the Flyer running Android 2.3 Gingerbread under the hood, with and Android 3.0 update planned for the future. The Flyer sports a 1.5Ghz single-core Qualcomm processor and a 7-inch 1024 by 600 multitouch display that can be used with an optional digital pen for text input. The tablet sports two cameras—a 5 megapixel with autofocus and a 1.3 megapixel front camera for video chat—along with 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0, integrated microphones, and an microSD media card slot.

HTC is presumably in discussions with mobile operators over launching 3G-enabled versions of the tablet; 3G versions of the Flyer are set to launch in the United Kingdom next month.

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