I didn’t realize how many carriers announced new Android phones this past week, carriers are still coming out of the woodwork even with more apparent Android releases. We cam start off with today’s news coming out of Japan. The Japanese carrier SoftBank Mobile, announced the release of the HTC Desire, that will make an appearance sometime at end of April. The carrier will offer a WCDMA version of HTC’s newest superphone. I will be available in brown, and silver and black version to later. As of now, Softbank has not released any pricing or plan details. This is the first Android 2.1-based device to be offered by Softbank Mobile. Staying with the HTC Desire, it is confirmed that T-Mobile UK is going to release the Desire for sale in its retail stores on March 29th (today). There are rumors of all sorts going around today about the Desire, some people have gotten others say that the in-store arrival has been pushed back to after Easter. Personally, I have yet to hear of anyone who has purchased it yet from the store, but I am going to keep my ear open. It has been on sale since since March 22nd on T-Mobile’s website. It has also been reported that the Desire will heading to Australia’s Telstra. It was rumored that it would be available on April 27th, but after just checking their site, the Desire has not become available for sale just yet.
Two Android powered phones will be coming to the Singapore market soon. First we hear the HTC Legend will be available in Singapore for purchase in early April. No carrier was announced, just seems that it will be for sale on the through HTC Asia and authorized resellers, and featuring a price tag of NT$16,900 (US$530.86). Next we have the Android 2.1 powered Motorola MILESTONE which is now exclusively available from StarHub in Singapore. It became available for public consumption on March 27th. StarHub has a couple different offers on the table, you can get one with a new contract on their 3G Smartsurf network for free (with 700 minute monthly plan). Looks like they are also offering a SIM-free version for close to $900 (US).Here is the official press release from StarHub. Another Motorola Milestone release, now confirmed that Motorola India is now selling the Milestone online. It will come with a retail price tag of Rs.32,990 in the Indian market. Milestone will come preloaded with lifetime free access to fully voice-guided street-level navigable maps of 401 cities in India. It is also the first Android 2.1 powered phone to be available there. For more information check out Motorola India.
Update: A posting on Twitter from a PR man at Orange UK has just confirmed the release of the HTC Desire ‘Black Edition”. Nothing has yet been posted on their “Coming Soon” page. But if you read the posting on Twitter by Conor Maples, the Orange UK rep, he says it will be available exclusively on contact by the end of April. He goes on to say the “regular” HTC Desire will be available at the start of April.