HTC mum on report of new Facebook phone

Taipei, March 24 (CNA) Taiwan's HTC Corp. declined to comment Sunday on a report that its new phone, featuring unique Facebook functionalities, had been certified for use in the United States by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The FCC, which oversees telecommunications and broadcast companies, approved March 22 an HTC phone called "PM33100," which is seen as HTC's next customized handset in partnership with Facebook, according to the U.S.-based tech news website Engadget.

In response, HTC said it would not comment on any market rumors or speculations.

Engadget reported March 22 that the new HTC-Facebook device, which has been referred to by earlier media reports as the HTC Myst, will have dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity, Bluetooth 4.0 wireless radio technology and long-term evolution (LTE) connectivity compatible with the AT&T Inc. network.

The Android-powered phone will also be equipped with a 4.3-inch 720p display, a 1.5-gigahertz dual-core microprocessor from Qualcomm Inc. and a 5-megapixel rear camera, the report said.

The news described HTC's latest attempt to jump into the fast-growing social networking market. In February 2011, the Taoyuan-based company unveiled the HTC ChaCha and HTC Salsa phones, both of which have an exclusive button to connect with Facebook.

But the two devices appeared to receive a lukewarm response from the public when they went on sale, as AT&T, the second-largest U.S. wireless carrier, slashed its orders for the HTC ChaCha in September 2011, according to a research note by J.P. Morgan Securities.