AT&T announces HTC Aria, an Android for your pocket

June 15, 2010 - By Justin E. Gehrke

Yesterday, AT&T announced the next addition in its line of Android-based smartphone offerings. The HTC Aria will be available, beginning on June 20, 2010 and includes, among other things, the Android 2.1 OS, a 5 megapixel camera, 3.2 inch HVGA display. The device utilizes the HTC Sense UI and also features an optical joystick, for added ease of use.

Is it an Apple iPhone killer? No, but, luckily, it doesn’t seem like it’s trying to be one, either. It’s a solid looking, compact smartphone that seems like it will easily fit in one’s pocket (Read: Not the bulky HTC Evo 4G). The Aria will also bring useful tools like Google Search, Maps, Navigation, and Gmail, within a finger’s reach. The attractive point for many, though, will be the device’s price.

The HTC Aria will go on sale on June 20, 2010, for the price of $129.99, when it’s purchased in conjunction with a two-year contract and a smartphone data plan. Of course, being an AT&T offering means that price includes a $100 mail-in rebate. This means you pay $229.99, up front, and receive a $100 AT&T Promotion card, via mail. While it may not seem like much, being able to apply the Promotion card to your next month’s bill makes it a potentially sweet deal. As always, be certain you pay attention to the details, so you actually see the Promotion card.

Since it is an Android 2.1 device, you’ll have access to the ever-growing array of apps available in the Android Market. As the popularity of the OS continues to grow, so, too, do the number of developers designing for it. So what else does the device have to offer that makes it newsworthy? The following features and technical specifications are quoted directly from the AT&T fact sheet on the HTC Aria.

Features: