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The newest Android handset from HTC is heading straight to the UK via Vodafone. This new Android smart phone has spent its development under the radar only to later surprise the tech community with its impressive features and practical hardware setup. With this announcement, at least four network operators will be offering the Android handset (T-Mobile, 3 UK and Virgin Mobile). With this level of competition we should be able to enjoy some pretty nice HTC Wildfire deals upon release.

Going in a different direction than the HTC Desire, the Wildfire is practically a low to mid range smart phone that still brings plenty of useful features on the table. While users cannot expect the same speed and performance that is normally found in other of the recently launched Android handsets, we can at least expect the Wildfire to be significantly cheaper than its Snapdragon bearing predecessors. Social networking is a major feature on this Android handset as it has integrated features for Facebook and Twitter.

The device also comes with a 3.2 capacitive touch screen with an accelerometer and multi touch, a 5 mega pixel camera (with flash and autofocus), a 3.5 mm audio jack and of course, support for WiFi, Bluetooth, AGPS, microSD cards and more. Hopefully, when the Android 2.2 Froyo update for the HTC Desire comes out this coming June 23, an update for the Wildfire will also be released (version 2.2 of the Android OS brings native support for Adobe Flash and AIR as well as tethering and other useful features).

Vodafone has already released the new plan details for this handset. According to Vodafone’s official website, the Wildfire is free with the two year 15 GPB monthly tariff which gives users 300 minutes of talk time and free texts -but no internet data allowance. While so many networks have already confirmed the device (and the price as well), it appears that nobody can still give a definitive release date for the Android smart phone.

The new Android 2.2 Froyo update is now available for the Google Nexus One smart phone. Thankfully, since Vodafone is now directly selling the device, the Nexus One is easy to obtain –as opposed to having to order the handset at the Google Online Store.

Anyway, the Nexus One is touch screen smart phone with a 3.7 inch AMOLED capacitive display. The screen response time (and refresh rates) is excellent and the touch controls are accurate. Of course, it certainly helps having a 1 GHz Snapdragon CPU running inside this device. The phone also features advanced voice recognition capabilities as well as speech to text options (thanks mostly to the new voice filtering hardware on the device).

Of course, the big headline here is not the phone (most of us are already familiar with the very first Google branded handset by now), but rather, the new Froyo update. As expected, the Nexus One is first to get the update, though it is expected that other Android devices will also be updated in a matter of time.

Froyo stands for frozen yogurt –as goes Google’s naming trend for the Android OS since 1.5 Cupcake, which was followed by 1.6 Donut, then later 2.0 Éclair. The next OS update after Froyo is expected to be version 3.0 Gingerbread. The new update features plenty of new options such as the ability to view and read Flash content as well as AIR.

Version 2.2 Froyo also allows using the handset (well, some handsets anyway) as a tether for your laptop or other device. Another new function is the ability to just download content –especially media into your phone directly by going online. No need for a computer or Android software to transfer and sync the files –a major addition which iPhone users have been waiting for. Now Google has decided to sell through thirdy party retailers it is possible to pick up Nexus One deals through Vodafone without going through the Google store.