Delay over: HTC Magic inbound for May 05

by Stevie Smith - Apr 20 2009, 16:45

Following up on the release of the HTC Dream (a.k.a. the ‘G1’), which arrived as the mobile industry’s first handset to carry Google’s open Android operating system, the Taiwan–based device manufacturer is now preparing to unleash its new HTC Magic on UK consumers.

Initially expected to hit stockists in the region on Friday of last week (April 17), the new HTC Magic was struck by an unforeseen speed bump when carrier Vodafone announced “a last minute hardware change” for the handset and a subsequent launch delay.

While the length of that delay was not specified at the time, Vodafone’s official UK site has since revealed that the Magic and its Android operating platform are now pencilled in for final arrival on May 05.

Those prospective mobile consumers looking forward to the Magic after it caused something of a stir at February’s Mobile World Congress can expect to receive the interactive benefits of a 3.2-inch QVGA touch-screen display, a 3.2 mega pixel camera (with Auto Focus), connectivity via high-speed HSDPA and Wi-Fi, and on-board GPS functionality.

One of the handset’s notable tradeoffs, as least in terms of physicality, when gauged against the existing Dream, is that the Magic foregoes its predecessor’s bold QWERTY keyboard in favour a much more slender form factor.

Associated pricing for the Magic will see European consumers offered the handset for free alongside an agreed two-year service contract that starts at around 30 GBP per month.

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