It’s spring, and Android phones are beginning to blossom around the world. In Canada, Rogers Communications announced Thursday that it will be the exclusive carrier for the HTC Dream and HTC Magic, beginning in June. These will be the first Android devices in that country.
NTT DoCoMo recently confirmed to news media that it will launch the first Android device in Japan — the HTC Magic, which will be released as the HT-03A.
And Africa-based MTN Group has announced that it’s releasing the HTC Dream in South Africa and 22 other countries.
Dream ‘Definitely a Hit’
The HTC Dream was dubbed the G1 when it was initially released late last year as the first Android device, offered by T-Mobile USA. The G stands for Google, the backer of the open-source Android mobile operating system and the provider of services available on Android phones. The HTC Magic was recently released in several European countries by Vodafone.
Avi Greengart, an analyst with industry research firm Current Analysis, said the surprise wasn’t that Android devices are moving into other markets, but that “it took a relatively long period of time” to do so.
He described the Dream as “definitely a hit,” since T-Mobile USA has sold more than a million units. Greengart said this is all the more impressive because “it’s the first iteration of a new OS and the hardware form factor is a bit clunky.”
At this point, he’s waiting to see when Android devices will be released by makers other than HTC. Several hardware makers have announced intentions to release Androids later this year or in 2010. Samsung, Greengart noted, has shown its i7500 smartphone, which he said has a “spectacular AMOLED display.” The Samsung device is expected in Europe next month.
‘Plain-Vanilla Androids’
The other thing Greengart said is needed for Android to flourish is additional software….