Orange UK finally sets sail on the Android boat - with the HTC Hero

Orange UK has announced it’s first Android device for the year. The HTC Hero will be given for free on certain monthly contracts from next month. It has also managed to bag an exclusive - but unfortunately it’s only for the “Graphite” color of handset.

The Hero is pretty standard smartphone fare. Full touch-screen, 5MP camera, 3G+, internal storage with the option for a 16Gb MicroSD card. It’s also got quick access to Google’s mobile services. The Hero will be free to Orange customers on a £39.15 per month contact, lasting 24 months contract. Along with the phone, you get 1200 “any network” minutes, unlimited texts, and Oranges usual data rates.

From the release:

Francois Mahieu, Director of Devices, Orange UK said, “We’re really pleased to be launching our first Android handset in conjunction with HTC. The first of several Android devices you can expect from us this year, we believe the Hero is a great all round device which will allow consumers to get to grips with all the things they love about the internet, whilst on the move. We expect it to be extremely popular when it hits shelves this summer.”

What we think?

It’s not a bad little device at all - and for 40 quid a month it’s not too pricey. But it’s more interesting as part of the flood of Android devices we’re seeing this year.