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.
3 UK is well known for having excellent 3G network coverage and service. The mobile virtual network operator has been pushing the envelope of 3G standards for the past few months with mobile phones that are best used with 3G technology. Now, three new devices will be adding to the lineup and they all make full use of the network connectivity.
It seems that the HTC Wildfire, the LG Viewty and the BlackBerry Pearl 3G have been added to 3 UK’s mobile phone line up.
Right off the bat, the Pearl 3G is one of the more recognizable devices. This phone, aside from having 3G support, also features a slightly larger screen than the original BlackBerry Pearl. The rest of the features of the two devices are actually quite similar. So far, 3 UK has not made any remarks regarding the launch date for the Pearl 3G.
The LG Viewty on the hand is already available at this time. This new smart phone from Korean manufacturer LG is a low to mid range handset that features a 3 inch resistive touch screen display, a 5 mega pixel camera and the usual host of smart phone features that one would expect. Since the device uses a resistive touch screen, a stylus comes embedded with the handset.
Taiwanese manufacturer HTC is also bringing its own blend of smart phone technology with the HTC Wildfire. While this new phone lacks the general speed and power of the newer HTC devices such as the Desire and the Legend; the HTC Wildfire is still a great phone on its own. HTC is also proud to introduce the new social networking system that features Friend stream, integration of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and many other services. The phone comes with a 3.2 inch capacitive touch screen, a 5 mega pixel camera and a 528 MHz CPU.
The all new HTC Wildfire is for those people who want great personalisation from the Android platform, but who’s budget doesn’t quite stretch to the £400+ that is required to get hold of a Desire. Yes the HTC Wildfire offers a more reasonably priced option and should be available for free on a contract priced between £15 and £20 per month. This is where we believe that HTC and Google can steal a march on their rivals, Apple. Apple has the premium marketplace all but sewn up, but we reckon that it is the budget handsets where the battle will be won and lost. You see there are an awful lot more users who can afford £100 on a handset that can afford £400+ and the more users that an operating system has, the more developers want to develop apps for it. I’m sure you can see where we are going with this, let’s just say that whoever wins the budget battle for OS supremacy, will win the overall APP battle and our reckoning is that Android may just take it in 2010.
