3 unveils INQ's Facebook phone

British mobile operator 3 officially introduced handset maker INQ's so-called "Facebook phone," a.k.a. the INQ1, which integrates social networking information and status updates in its contact list. The slider phone, developed by INQ and manufactured by Amoi, promises a social networking experience comparable to the PC, with Facebook, Windows Messenger and Skype VoIP services always on in the background. In addition to one-touch access to music site Last.fm, video aggregator YouTube and online auction site eBay via the 3 mobile web portal, the INQ1 boasts offline Facebook profile browsing, pokes and messaging--a 3.2 MP camera also enables users to efficiently upload photos to their Facebook page.

3 has not yet announced an official launch date for the INQ1, but announced the device will available free to subscribers who sign up for an 18-month contract: For £15 ($22.25 U.S.) per month, users will enjoy unlimited access to Facebook, Skype and Windows Live Messenger services as well as up to 1GB a month of web access, unlimited texts, unlimited email, unlimited calls to other 3 customers and 75 minutes of calls to other networks. "The 85 percent to 95 percent of the market that did not buy the iPhone and cannot afford an expensive smartphone has been frankly forgotten," said INQ CEO Frank Meehan.

For more on the INQ1:
- read this Guardian article

Related articles:
Facebook passes 15 million user mark
MySpace, Facebook widen mobile social networking lead