The sub-$200 unsubsidized Android phones are coming

Here’s a very interesting article talking about all the cheaper Android smart phones that are coming very soon and that might even already have arrived in China: http://www.rethink-wireless.com/2010/02/22/htc-smart-face-new-mass-market-smartphone.htm

Marvell, ST Ericsson, Texas Instruments and carriers Orange, Telefonica O2, KPN in the Netherlands, Telecom Italia in Italy and Netcom in Norway are all talking about wanting to sell cheaper pre-paid only unsubsidized Android phones to consumers in Europe according to this article.

chipmakers are rising to the challenge – Marvell showed off a chipset to enable a sub-$99 smartphone; Texas Instruments discussed a cutdown implementation of its OMAP3 application processor for midrange handsets or new device formats like e-readers; and ST-Ericsson pinned its growth hopes on ‘smartphones for all’.

Alcatel Mobile Phones introduced its first Android phone, the OT-980, at Mobile World Congress. It sports a touchscreen, vertical slider Qwerty keyboard, Wi-Fi and HSDPA and will ship in June at an unsubsidized price point of below €200.

Unlike most Alcatel phones, which are targeted at developing economies, this will be marketed mainly in Europe, with the UK, France, Spain and Italy the prime markets because the firm believes the Alcatel brand is strong there. Alcatel Mobile Phones is owned by TCT Mobile of China, which acquired the business from what is now Alcatel-Lucent several years ago but kept rights to the brand. Like other Chinese players like ZTE and Huawei, it aims to use affordable smartphones as the route to gain a presence outside developing markets.

Source: http://www.rethink-wireless.com/2010/02/22/htc-smart-face-new-mass-market-smartphone.htm