Vodafone announces first branded Android handset

Vodafone has revealed its first own-brand Android handset the Vodafone 845.

It may run the latest version of the Android operating system known as Eclair' but the 845 has the specs of an entry level device, with a low 240x320 resolution 2.8in touch screen, three megapixel camera and only 512MB of internal storage.

It will have access to all the apps on the Android Market though and will come pre-loaded with Vodafone's 360 social networking service.

"The [845] shows our commitment and ability to take high-end trends and make them an affordable option for many," said Patrick Chomet, group director of Terminals at Vodafone, in a statement.

The handset will initially be available in 12 of Vodafone's markets, including the UK but the operator has refrained from setting a solid release date as of yet.

Jennifer Scott is a former freelance journalist and currently political reporter for Sky News. She has a varied writing history, having started her career at Dennis Publishing, working in various roles across its business technology titles, including ITPro. Jennifer has specialised in a number of areas over the years and has produced a wealth of content for ITPro, focusing largely on data storage, networking, cloud computing, and telecommunications.

Most recently Jennifer has turned her skills to the political sphere and broadcast journalism, where she has worked for the BBC as a political reporter, before moving to Sky News.