Taiwan’s HTC has taken the wraps off the Tattoo, a new handset based on Google’s Android mobile operating system. While the Tattoo is HTC’s fourth Android-based handset—the first was the T-Mobile G1—it is only the second to feature HTC Sense, a customizable user interface that enables users to create their own home screens for their phones with just the information and utilities they want. Always want your friends’ Facebook updates front and center? No problem. Are you a Twitter fiend? Put tweets right on your home screen. HTC Sense enables users to set up individual screens for different roles (such as work, friends, and family).
“Everyone wants their own phone to feel like it was specifically made for them,” said HTC CEO Peter Chou, in a statement. “The Tattoo, with HTC Sense represents an easy way to shape your own distinct mobile experience and really make it your own.”
As a handset, the HTC Tattoo offers a 2.8-inch QVGA touchscreen display, a 3.2 megapixel video-capable camera, and 900/2100 MHz HSPA/UMTS and quad-band GSM/EDGE connectivity. The Tattoo also packs an internal GPS receiver for location-aware applications, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless networking, an integrated compass, an FM receiver, and expandable storage via microSD cards. Of course, being an Android phone, the Tattoo integrates with Google mobile services like Google Maps and Gmail, and users can tap into the nascent Android Market to download additional apps that expand the phone’s functionality.
HTC plans to put the Tattoo on sale in Europe in October (no pricing information has been offered), and bring it out to additional world markets in following months.
