LG has launched its first-ever Android-powered handset in the form of the GW620.
Available in the UK through T-Mobile and Virgin Mobile, the GW620 alternatively known as the InTouch Max is a 3in capacitive touchscreen slider with a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard and a five megapixel camera with face recognition.
Connectivity comes courtesy of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, while HSDPA is present and correct. LG has included its own social networking manager, Linkbook, which lets users collate their social networking contacts into a single list, from which any of the typical services can be accessed directly.
The GW620 which was first announced back in September marks LG's first foray into Android territory, and despite only sporting the older Android 1.5 OS rather than the latest version 2.1, it still brings with it access to the Android Market and the 20,000 apps available there around two-thirds of which are free.
"This is a symbolic launch for us. It signals the end of expensive and exclusive applications and the start of applications for everyone," John Barton, said in a statmJohn Barton, LG's sales and marketing director, said in a statement.
T-Mobile is offering the GW620 free when signing up to a 24-month deal at 20 per month, which comes with unlimited texts and data and 200 free minutes. Alternatively, if you're happy with just 200 texts a month, you can knock 2 off the price and get an 18-month deal.
Virgin requires 22 monthly to get the phone free of charge, but only for 18 months, also with 250 minutes, unlimited texts and data. Alternatively, you can put down 50 up front and pay just 18 a month, though only with 150 minutes and 500 texts.
The GW620 is just the latest of many new Android handsets expected in 2010, with the Linux-based OS' star very much on the rise. In December, 21 per cent of those considering a new mobile phone in the next three months told comScore they'd probably be opting for an Android device.
Since then Google's own Nexus One has launched, and the GW620's arrival, along with a slew of new arrivals from HTC, Motorola and [a href="http://www.samsung.com" target="blank"Samsung[/a] as well as Sony Ericsson's debut offering looks set to boost its appeal still further in the months to come.
LG itself has already promised that half of its 2010 releases will be Android-powered.
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