High Tech Computer (HTC) unveiled its second Google Android-based smartphone, the HTC Magic, with mobile service provider Vodafone on Tuesday. The new smartphone will soon battle its predecessor, the T-Mobile G1 (also called the HTC Dream) in Europe. Vodafone plans to launch the HTC Magic in the U.K., Spain, Germany, France and Italy and several other Vodafone markets over the next few months, the company said in a statement. T-Mobile has said it would roll out the G1 in continental Europe in the first quarter of this year. Vodafone did not provide pricing information, nor nail down a specific launch date.
The Magic will also provide applications through Google's Android Market which now offers more than 800 programs for download. The device has new capabilities supported by the use of new "Cupcake" Android firmware. Among them, the most worth-mentioning are the video recording capability and the on-screen QWERTY keyboard.
As expected, the HTC magic will have deep integration with Google's Web services like Gmail, Google Calendar, YouTube, and Google Maps.
The HTC Magic will be sold only through Vodafone in the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain and France. The new device will also be available in Italy on a non-exclusive basis. The Magic will be sold in several other countries, but Vodafone hasn’t said yet what other markets will get it.
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