HTC First struggling as AT&T ramps Facebook phone subsidy

The HTC First is the Facebook phone that social networking addicts have been craving for, but it seems AT&T is desperately trying move inventory of the new device because they just dropped the subsidy price of the First down to a mere $0.99 for a limited time. Previously, the phone sold for $99 after signing a two-year contract.

Be aware that this isn't a permanent price drop, but basically just a limited-time sale that will most likely only last a few days or possibly a couple of weeks. Frankly, we're surprised to see such a new and popular phone be put on the price-chopping block so soon, but it hints to the possibility that AT&T isn't selling them like hotcakes, and the price drop could be a strategy to get more of these devices out the door.

The phone is your typical mid-range device that comes packing with the latest chipset. A Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor leads the show, clocked at 1.4MHz, with 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. The 5MP camera on the back certainly works, but we wouldn't use as our dedicated mobile snapper by any means.

However, the First does sports 4G LTE and has a smaller 4.3-inch display that has a 720p resolution. Some users may not like the smaller screen compared to the larger displays of today's phones (and could be one of the reasons behind potential poor sales), but it's certainly nice to see a smaller device make its way into the limelight for those who want a more compact phone.