14 DAY TRIAL // HTC First, the Android-based smartphone that Facebook and HTC brought to the market in the United States, with the new Facebook Home experience loaded on top from the get-go, won’t land in the UK after all, even if it was initially planned for launch in this market as well.
Apparently, the decision was taken by Facebook, and the main reason for it was the negative feedback that it received for the smartphone in the US.
The company is now said to focus on adding some more features to the Facebook Home application, so as to ensure that users receive the expected experience from it.
In the UK, the HTC First smartphone was set to become available for purchase through wireless carrier EE, which has already confirmed said change of plans from Facebook.
“Following customer feedback, Facebook has decided to focus on adding new customization features to Facebook Home over the coming months,” an EE spokesperson reportedly told SlashGear.
“While they are working to make a better Facebook Home experience, they have recommended holding off launching the HTC First in the UK, and so we will shortly be contacting those who registered their interest with us to let them know of this decision.”
“Rest assured, we remain committed to bringing our customers the latest mobile experiences, and we will continue to build on our strong relationship with Facebook so as to offer customers new opportunities in the future,” company’s official also said.
For those out of the loop, we should note that, while HTC First was launched with Facebook Home loaded on top right from the start, the application is available for download on more devices, through the Google Play Store.
Facebook Home will replace the stock Android launcher with a new one, specifically designed to deliver social updates to users straight on the homescreen of their devices, while also offering a new messaging experience.