I still remember when I carry my first Android smartphone, HTC Magic and my friend start asking, what it is running on. “Android” I answer. “What? Is this the Google OS” they replied. I nod my head, sort of. That is end of last year where little known Android at that time is known more as Google’s operating system. Fast forward to this year, Android need little or no introduction. It grows impressively over the years, with the phones sold everywhere, in retail tores, online and even hypermarket!
The wide adoption of Android smartphone in Malaysia is particularly attributed by telcos and the smartphone’s local distributor who aggressively marketed this phone to users. Maxis stand out from the rest with the most Android smartphone in offer. They have 5 Android smartphone models, although they do have more before, but pull some of them out due to weak demand. Celcom, who pioneering Android smartphone with HTC Magic, seems stagnant, no new product, basically nothing. It is unclear what is Celcom strategy toward Android.
Digi on the other hand, being new player has priced the only Android smartphone they have, HTC Legend aggressively. They halved the retail price with 2 years contract. With upcoming HTC Aria due in September, I expect similar strategy to be deployed here to woo more users.
I’ve listed down Android smartphone available with contract from telco. On top of these models, there are more model available in market from retailer such as Motorola Milestone, Milestone XT, Acer Liquid series, SCL Mi300 and etc. Hit the source link at the end of this post to visit each telco.
| Maxis | |
| HTC Desire | Android 2.1( upgradable to 2.2), 5-megapixel camera, Qualcomm Snapdragon QSD8250 1 GHz processor, 3.7-inch AMOLED/SLDC display, 576 MB RAM; 512 MB ROM, RM1349/RM1399/RM1499 (24/18/12 months) |
| Samsung Galaxy S | Android 2.1( upgradable to 2.2), 5-megapixel camera, Qualcomm Snapdragon QSD8250 1 GHz processor, 3.7-inch AMOLED/SLDC display, 576 MB RAM; 512 MB ROM, RM1499/RM1649/RM1699 (24/18/12 months) |
| HTC Wildfire | Android 2.1, 5-megapixel camera, Qualcomm MSM 7225 528 MHz, 3.2-inch display, 384 MB RAM; 512 MB ROM, RM549/RM599/RM699 (24/18/12 months) |
| Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini | Android 1.6, 5-megapixel camera, Qualcomm MSM 7227 600 MHz, 2.55-inch display128 MB RAM, RM1288/RM1418 (24/18/12 months) |
| Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 | Android 1.6, 8-megapixel camera, Qualcomm Snapdragon QSD8250 1 GHz processor, 4-inch display, 384 MB RAM; 512 MB ROM, RM1288/RM1418 (24/18/12 months) |
| Celcom | |
| HTC Hero | Android 1.6, 5-megapixel camera, Qualcomm MSM 7200A 528 MHz processor, 3.1-inch display, 288 MB RAM, 512 MB ROM, RM1288/RM1418 (Exec50/Exec250) |
| HTC Legend | Android 2.1, 5-megapixel camera, Qualcomm MSM 7200A 600 MHz processor, 3.2-inch AMOLED display, 384 MB RAM, 512 MB ROM, RM1318/RM1428 (Exec50/Exec250) |
| Digi | |
| HTC Legend | Android 2.1, 5-megapixel camera, Qualcomm MSM 7200A 600 MHz processor, 3.2-inch AMOLED display, 384 MB RAM, 512 MB ROM, RM999/RM1399 (24/12 months) |
| HTC Aria | Android 2.1, 5-megapixel camera, Qualcomm MSM 7227 600 MHz processor, 512 MB ROM, 384 MB ROM, (available September) |
