Alcatel jumps on Android bandwagon

BARCELONA,SPAIN: Alcatel this week unveiled a range of new handsets, including its first Android-based device.

The touchscreen OT-980 will be available around June for less than €200. The HSPA device is expected to be available in France, Spain, the UK and Italy.

Alcatel’s decision to support Google’s operating system may surprise some, especially in light of Alcatel’s status as primarily a supplier of low-cost handsets to emerging markets. The company’s phones are actually manufactured by Asia’s TCT Mobile, and the vendor claimed to have shipped 16 million units in 2009.

In 2010 it plans to launch 15 new devices. Such devices include its OT-710, geared towards music, messaging and social networking; the OT-880, a touch and Qwerty side slider; the OT-606, a qwerty side slider targeting text messaging addicts; and the OT-806, a WiFi supporting phone with a touch display and Qwerty keyboard in bartype form. These new devices are expected to be available later this year at an unsubsidised cost of under €100.