It turns out that not everyone wants Facebook to be the centerpiece of their smartphone. The "Facebook-enhanced" HTC First was released little more than a month ago and already it's selling for less than a pack of gum.
AT&T currently lists the handset at an extremely affordable $0.99--a steep discount from the First's $99 launch price. While we didn't mind the First or its pre-installed Facebook Home launcher, the phone's middling capabilities didn't compare favorably to other similarly priced smartphones like the iPhone 4S or Nokia Lumia 920. A price drop this early in the First's life could be a sign that the phone wasn't selling well at its original price and AT&T is looking to clear some of its extra inventory.
When questioned on the phone's sudden drop in price, AT&T told Mashable that the discount was only temporary but didn't comment on how long the phone would sell for less than a dollar. Both HTC and AT&T declined to comment on the sales of the First--though I doubt anyone has been chomping at the bit to get their hands on the Facebook-centric phone.
Facebook Home, which launched alongside the the HTC First, has also run into its fair share of problems. Some users reported the app would randomly slow down or lock up their phones, while others voiced their frustrations with how much the launcher limited what they could do on their devices. As a result, Facebook Home has an overwhelming number of negative reviews on the Google Play Store and is currently Facebook's lowest rated app.
The limited nature of Facebook Home, coupled with underwhelming specs, has effectively made the First into the last phone anyone would want to buy.
