Vodafone to offer new Android handsets in New Zealand

Three new phones will carry the Google mobile OS to a wider audience, company says

Vodafone is adding three new Android-powered devices to its line-up.

They will add to the HTC Magic and Sony Ericsson’s flagship Xperia X10i, which are already in the market and carry the Google mobile OS.

The three new phones are the HTC Desire, the X10i Mini PRO and the LG Optimus (GT540).

The HTC Desire includes HTC’s native platform “Friendstream” which collates all users’ social media updates from Twitter, Flickr and Facebook.

The X10i Mini PRO offers a full touch screen plus slide-out QWERTY keyboard, 5MP camera with autofocus and LED flash, Vodafone says.

The LG Optimus (GT540) has a three inch full touch screen display, 3MP camera with auto face tagging technology and advanced multimedia supporting DivX & Xvid.

Vodafone’s Director of Sales, Grant Hopkins, says in a statement from Vodafone: “Smartphones are the fastest growing segment in the handset world, yet the devices themselves have always been at the top end of our price range.

“With Google’s Android operating system available right across the range we now have a smartphone to suit every pocket.”