We’re at 3’s INQ phone launch!

This Thursday we’re at the launch event by the network 3 of their latest handset the INQ 1 – a purpose built phone by their parent company Hutchison Whampoa.

Supposedly this handset has great Facebook and social networking integration; some are calling this the very first Facebook phone.

Pronounced ‘INK’, the phone is set to be the first in a series of handsets within this new range. Reports have come out so far it will have a plethora of data facilities built in, such as instant messaging, mobile email and Skype, all out of the box too.

It’s also been said that it’ll arrive on prepay contracts, all hoping to mightily surge forward business for 3 in an effort to improve its subscriber base.

Prices have yet to be fully confirmed, but we believe from sources the first handset will be in the range of £50 to £80. With another six phones due out next year. All with the same theme of being aimed at users who don’t want to pay the high prices associated with the iPhone or BlackBerrys.

Apparently the idea for the phone came from their Skypephone, where Hutchison decided to develop a range of handsets for the mass market all with data services in mind.

We’ll tell you more when we get the full skinny, the complete low down, the full enchilada – everything you needed to know but were too afraid to ask about the INQ on the day.

On that very note, if there’s any questions you have about the phone ask away in the comments below. We’ll endeavour to have them answered at the event and more successfully than we did over the Storm, grrrrrrr!