On those rare occasions when the U.S. gets an HTC handset before it makes its way to market across the pond, we have no choice but to feel some odd sense of satisfaction… until we inevitably hear that said handset will finally launch abroad. And that is exactly the case today — even if it is just . Actually, this slick little Android kit is nothing to scoff at despite its diminutive stature. When the Gratia launches across Europe next month, it will feature the Android 2.2 OS, a 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen, a 5-megapixel camera and plenty more; all in a tight little 4.06-ounce package that stands just over 4-inches tall. Sure, once the Gratia launches we’ll have one less thing to hold over the heads of our European friends, but until then we can all hold our Arias high. Hit the jump for the full press release and a shot of the Gratia looking sleek in white (something our European friends will no doubt hold over our heads next month).

HTC LAUNCHES SLEEK AND COMPACT HTC GRATIA FOR EUROPEAN MARKETS

LONDON, UK – 18 October, 2010 – HTC Corporation, a global designer of smartphones, today announced the European launch of HTC Gratia, a rich and elegant addition to Android’s smartphone portfolio.

Combining style and functionality, the sleek and compact HTC Gratia features a seamless wrap-around soft-cover that eliminates hard edges and a five megapixel colour camera with auto focus. At just over four inches in length and weighing 4.06 ounces, it packs power thanks to Android 2.2 – the latest version of Android.

HTC Gratia also embodies the acclaimed HTC Sense™ experience, which places you at the centre, by making your phone work in a more personal and natural way, while providing unexpected features that put a smile on your face. It also offers you more ways to stay connected with Friend Stream – an application that brings all of your Facebook, Twitter and Flickr updates into a single, organized flow of updates – making keeping in touch with friends on social networks even easier.

“HTC’s mantra is to provide a unique mix of experience and choice to people using our phones,” said Florian Seiche, President of HTC Europe, Middle East and Africa. “HTC Gratia offers something completely different. Its compact size, beautiful design and power with Android 2.2, combined with its personalised experience through HTC Sense, is uniquely compelling. We can’t wait to bring HTC Gratia to our customers in Europe.”

Availability
The HTC Gratia will be available through mobile operators and retailers across major European markets from November 2010.

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