HTC Status hands-on (photos)

Originally introduced as the HTC ChaCha at Mobile World Congress, the HTC Status will be available from AT&T starting on July 17 for $49.99 with a two-year contract.

The Status features a dedicated Facebook button that allows you to easily post status updates, check in to places, share links, and more. It's also context aware, so if you take a photo, the button will glow to remind you that you can upload it to Facebook.

With a short press of the Facebook button, the phone will automatically launch the status update screen.

Meanwhile, a long press takes you to the page where you can check into locations.

The HTC Status also comes preloaded with a Facebook chat client, so you can instant message with any online friends.

In addition to the ability to share what music you're listening to, you can post links from around the Web to your wall.

Though the Facebook integration is the main attraction, the Status has other things to offer. It's running Android 2.3 Gingerbread and also features the latest HTC Sense user interface.

The menus have been redesigned to accommodate the phone's smaller 2.6-inch HVGA touch screen. Even with the modified menus, we found it pretty difficult to navigate the phone with such a small display.

Like a number of other HTC devices, the Status has a slight chin at the bottom. The phone itself is nice and compact, and the unibody design gives it a premium feel.

On top of the phone, you'll find the power button and 3.5mm headphone jack.

The HTC Status has two cameras: a 5-megapixel camera and flash on back and a front-facing VGA camera for video calls.

After taking a photo, you can simply press the Facebook button to upload it to the social networking site.