HTC Tattoo

The HTC Tattoo is HTC's latest Android handset, designed to bring the Android platform to a wider market with a lower cost device than previous HTC Android smartphones.

Think of the Tattoo as being very similar to the HTC Touch 3G, but running Android instead of Windows and you'll be pretty close in terms of specifications. The HTC Tattoo has a 2.8" 240 x 320 pixel touchscreen display, a 3.2 megapixel camera, built-in GPS and a digital compass, 3.5G support, WiFi and microSD expandable memory.

The Tattoo's media player can cope with most major formats including MP3, AAC, MPEG4 and Windows Media. As with some other recent HTC phones, the Tattoo comes with a 3.5mm audio socket which is a huge improvement over the old USB-based headphone arrangement. There's a built-in FM radio as well.

HTC have taken the standard Android package and have worked their magic on it, giving it a unified way of tracking communications with contacts, and a version of the TouchFLO interface on top. There's all sorts of Google software included as well, including Google Maps.

It's not a particularly bulky device - measuring 106 x 55 x 14mm and weighing 113 grams, it's certainly more compact than a lot of other Android smartphones. The 1100 mAh battery is quoted as being good for 5 hours 40 minutes talktime on 3G and 21 days standby time, which will probably make it a practical phone for all-day use.

Inside is the usual Qualcomm MSM7225 528 MHz processor, coupled with 256 MB of RAM which is a similar arrangement to most other comparable phones.

HTC say that the Tattoo should be available in Europe in October with other regions following later, possibly with different UMTS frequencies. We have no word on cost, but the HTC Touch 3G retails for about €350 SIM-free, so expect something broadly similar for the Tattoo.

There are quite a few Android handsets about now.. the question is, is there actually a "mass market" for this type of mass market Android phone? We will just have to wait and see..

HTC Tattoo at a glance

Available: October 2009

Network: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 +
UMTS 900 / 2100 (Europe / Asia)

Data: GPRS + EDGE + UMTS (3G) + HSDPA + WiFi

Screen: 2.8" 240 x 320 pixels

Camera: 3.2 megapixels

Size: Compact Touchscreen
106 x 55 x 14mm / 113 grams

Bluetooth: Yes

Memory card: MicroSD

Infra-red: No

Polyphonic: Yes

Java: Yes

GPS: Yes

OS: Android

Battery life:

5.7 hours talk / 21 days standby (3G)
6.5 hours talk / 14 days standby (GSM)