Etisalat spreads Magic with new smartphone

Dubai:  Etisalat on Wednesday launched a new smartphone by HTC Corporation based on the Google Android platform called HTC Magic.

This will be the third phone-maker that Abu Dhabi-based telecommunications carrier etisalat has signed with on a data package after BlackBerry and iPhone.

Adding to the growing list of 3G devices in the market, etisalat is trying to maximise its revenues from the 3/3.5G network that covers 99 per cent of the UAE.

"We have over 7.3 million customers and we have to satisfy all of them," said Omar Al Muzakki, vice-president of product marketing at etisalat. "We have collaborated with many vendors and it depends on customer needs," he said.

The phone is also being launched elsewhere in the region as the manufacturer signs up with various carriers such as Vodafone in Qatar. According to the Taiwanese phone-maker, it will be the first Android-based model to hit the UAE, which also has options for Arabic users such as a QWERTY keyboard in the Arabic alphabet.

Running on a platform initially designed by Google, Android is based on the Linux kernel. The platform provides easy tools for developers to make applications. Google said that by the end of this year there would be 18 phone models using the Android system worldwide. Some of the manufacturers who have already launched or are in the process of launching devices on the system are Dell, LG, Motorola, Samsung and Sony Ericsson.

Goggle applications such as mail, search, maps and Google Talk come pre-installed in the phone. Also known as the G2, its connectivity technologies include HSDPA 7 Mbps and HSUPA at 2 Mbps.

Retailing for Dh2,199, the device is available on a pre-paid and two post-paid plans.