Android OS-based HTC Aria Coming to AT&T Next Week

AT&T is going to release its second smartphone running Google's Android OS next week. The HTC Aria will have a mid-range feature set and price.

This smartphone is going to have a tablet shape with a  3.2-inch, 320 x 480 (HVGA) touchscreen and an optical trackball but no sliding keyboard.

It will debut with Android OS 2.1 and the HTC Sense user interface layered on top. Rather than replacing Google's standard UI, HTC's enhances it with additional homescreens and widgets.

Thanks to Google's operating system, it will come with a suite of communication, entertainment, and productivity software, as well as access to many thousands of additional apps on the Android Market.

More Hardware Details
The HTC Aria will be able to access AT&T's 7.2 Mbps 3G network, and it is also going to sport Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a GPS receiver.

In addition, the model will have a 5 megapixel camera, microSD memory card slot, and a 3.5 mm headset jack.

This smartphone was previously known by its code-name, HTC Liberty.

Pricing and Availability
The HTC Aria will launch on June 20 at AT&T's website and at this carrier's retail stores.

It is going to cost $130 with a qualifying two-year service contract and a $100 mail-in rebate.