Vodafone Smart – cheap as chips Android PAYG smartphone announced

Vodafone has announced its latest entry-level market Android handset, the Vodafone Smart. The Android 2.2 Froyo-powered little fella comes with a 2.8-inch QVGA capacitive touchscreen and quadband HSDPA (3.6).

Its pocketable dimensions measure up at just 56 x 106 x 12mm, with the smartphone-ette weighing just 100g, and it’ll be available in a load of different colours with a novel seasonal twist serving up, “spring/summer and autumn/winter cover ranges.”

There’s also WiFi and Bluetooth onboard, with the Smart expected in “early summer” for around a very modest €90 ($79).

Press Release:

Vodafone announces the Vodafone Smart – a smartphone for everyone
Android powered and with innovative design features, the Vodafone Smart is the first in its category – in store for summer, available on pay as you go data plans

Monday 16th May, 2011. Vodafone today announces the launch of the Vodafone Smart, the latest handset in its own-brand range and the first in its category: a fully-featured smartphone with popular appeal for the next wave of data users.
The Vodafone Smart delivers a compelling smartphone experience, empowering customers to enter the world of the mobile internet, bringing together apps, navigation, social-networking and multimedia, all at a great price, in a great package.

Patrick Chomet, Vodafone Group Terminals Director said, “More and more Vodafone customers are enjoying the benefits of smartphones which currently account for over 40% of the phones we sell in Europe. Continuing to push the boundaries through our own-brand range, the Vodafone Smart is a new smartphone concept. It takes the higher end mobile internet experience and packages it for the mass market, its range of covers and accessories making it a fun fashion statement. Available on pay as you go plans, and on the fast, reliable Vodafone networks, the Vodafone Smart is a great step-up into the world of mobile data.”

The Vodafone Smart will be rolled out in a range of colours – from cool monochromes, through bold brights, to bespoke graphic designs. What’s more, customers will be able to personalise their phone, creating their own one-off covers on the web. With spring/summer and autumn/winter cover ranges planned, customers can build up a cover collection to suit their style and spirit.

The Android 2.2 software will give customers access to the full Android experience, including the Android Market™, Gmail™, Google Maps™ and Google Talk™ instant messaging. In addition, the phone has a zoom camera and a capacitive touchscreen as well as 3G, WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity.

The Vodafone design team have created the user experience with first-time smartphone users in mind and, as such, the homescreen comes pre-loaded with direct links to key content and features including Facebook™, Twitter™, email, Vodafone’s ‘Prepay Manager’ for quick top-ups, Vodafone Music and finally the ‘Updates’ widget, which gives customers easy access to a shortlist of leading Android Market apps and other services selected by local Vodafone editors.

The Vodafone Smart will be available across the Vodafone footprint by early summer. Germany, Italy and the UK will be among the first to sell the phone which will retail for around €90.