Mobile services provider Meteor is leading the smartphone push in Ireland with the announcement of three Android handsets, each available for as low as €119.99 online.
This recently announced offer applies to the Lg Optimus, Samsung Europa, and Sony Ericsson X8, which are all available to purchase from Meteor’s website. The handsets themselves have fairly basic specifications, but this offer will nonetheless help introduce Android to the masses, and further augment the phenomenal growth the platform has witnessed in the past year.
Unfortunately none of the handsets appear to be using Android 2.2 (Froyo), the latest release of the OS. Versions may well be as low as Android 1.6 and likely no higher than Android 2.0.
Meteor has experienced the potential of the Android platform with Kealan Donoghue, Meteor’s Head of Devices and Product Operations, commenting that “Meteor has seen sales of Android devices grow rapidly through 2010, with more than 100% volume growth each quarter. This is driven not only by smartphones such as the HTC Desire and Samsung Galaxy S, but also as a result of Meteor offering Prepay customers more affordable Android smartphones, such as the LG Optimus and Samsung Galaxy Europa”.
To help “celebrate the innovation and creativity” in applications development, Meteor is sponsoring the ‘Best Android Application Award’ at The Appys, an Irish apps award ceremony. The Appys take place on Thursday, November 4th 2010 at the Gibson Hotel, Point Village, in Dublin. Commenting on the sponsorship Donoghue stated: “The work of developers on new and exciting applications is central to the customers’ experience of Android, and Meteor is delighted to be associated with this award.”
Meteor have also launched a dedicated apps section on their website with tips on different phone types and platforms, all the while promoting the Android platform.