Rogers Wireless will be the first to launch smartphones powered bythe hopen source Android operating system. The company said today thatnext month it will start selling the HTC Dream and HTC Magic
smartphones, which it says will allow fast and easy access to a wide range of Google mobile
services. “Who else but Rogers would be the first carrier to offer Canadians the
first chance to join the mobile revolution with a choice of not one, but two,
handsets powered by the Android platform?” John Boynton, senior vice-
president and chief marketing officer of Rogers Wireless said in a press release. “The HTC Magic offers
a responsive touch screen and the HTC Dream delivers both a touch screen and a
slide out QWERTY keyboard. Both devices offer outstanding wireless internet
search capabilities and a full suite of applications that run two times faster
on Canada’s fastest mobile network.” No details are available yet on pricing.
Android is an operating system being pushed by Google for mobiledevices. Initially it is going into handsets, but companies, includingVancouver’s Intrinsyc Software, are being hired to put it into consumer devices.
The HTC Magic measures 113 by 55 by 13.65 mm ( 4.45 x 2.17 x 0.54inches) and weighs 118.5 grams ( 4.18 ounces) with battery. The3.2-inch TFT-LCD touch-sensitive screen has 320×480 HVGA resolution. The batter has an estimated standby time of up to 420 hours, while talktime is an estimated 450 minutes.
