3 launches the "social mobile"

Can't stay away from Facebook for more than three seconds? It's OK -- this story will still be here when you get back. Now that you're satisfied with your fresh status update, you're the exact market that Three's targeting with a new "social mobile" (Three's term, not ours), the INQ1.

Three touts the INQ1 on the basis not just of its telephony, but its close Facebook integration, as well as Skype and Windows Live Messenger, and particularly its live address book feature, which gathers all your contact details from those applications together for ease of use. Presumably also massive social inconvenience if you lose the handset and it has sensitive contact details on there, but we digress.

The INQ1 touts HSDPA connectivity, a slider keypad, 3.2 Megapixel Camera and tethering capability amongst its bag of tricks. We can't help but think that you've been able to do that kind of thing with, say, a Blackberry or iPhone for some time, but those are, admittedly, premium-priced handsets.

3's going to offer the INQ1 for $179 to pre-paid customers (who then go on 3's regular) rates, or free on a $39/month, $310 cap value plan, which puts it more in the mass-market field. The INQ1 will be available "in time for Christmas", according to Three.