Facebook did not roll out a new smartphone on Thursday. Instead, the company unveiled the Facebook Home, a launcher for Android phones.

The smartphone that has the launcher is HTC First, which will be sold by AT&T for $99.99 on a new two-year contact. Shipment on this AT&T exclusive begins April 12, but the U.S. carrier started taking pre-order on April 4, Thursday.

The Facebook Home is a custom layer on top of Google's Android software, tightly integrated with the social networking service of Facebook.

The HTC First features a 4.3-inch screen, 5-megapixel camera, front-facing camera and a dual-core Snapdragon 400 processor, and it runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. It is available in white, red, light blue or black colours.

CNET pointed out that the HTC First is not the Taiwanese phone manufacturer's most thrilling device. The Web site recommended for HTC fans who are seeking a more advanced smartphone to instead go for the HTC One whose shipment was delayed to April because of parts shortage.

"Unlike most HTC handsets, which boast interesting accents and fine craftsmanship, this First phone is a whole lot of 'blah,' with a plain body and soft-touch coating all around," CNET pointed out.

On Facebook Home, ZDNET gave 5 first impressions on the launcher.

1. The platform is very quick and responsive to touch gestures.

2. Overall UI design could benefit from more polishing as well as its Home screen app menu which the Web site observed to be like an older version of Android OS, particularly Gingerbread or Froyo.

3. The device using the launcher makes it possible to update, comment and like from anywhere in the gadget.

4. It has little business use except to influence other social networks to have their own Home-like integration.

5. One major security flaw is that the news feed updates from contacts scroll by even before the unlock screen. If the device is stolen or lost, the finder could gain access to the owner's contacts and other information as long as the Cover Feed keeps going.