HTC Wildfire S: Virgin Mobile Releases Latest Android Smartphone
Friday marked the debut of Virgin Mobile's latest entry into the Android smartphone market, the "Wildfire S."
Virgin officially revealed the smartphone alongside its brand new "LG Optimus Slider." The "Wildfire S' will hit retail stores on Oct. 23 for the price of $199. Radio Shack will offer the smartphone in white while Best Buy will give users the option to get it in silver. Virgin will also offer the silver option.
The smartphone comes with a host of features, including a 3.2-inch HVGA touchscreen, 5MP camera with flash, 3G with Wi-Fi capabilities and a 600MHz processor. No keyboard will come with the phone, though. It will run on Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and feature a program called "HTC Sense", which puts users’ most important information on their home screen by providing further customizable widgets and applications.
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A pre-loaded feature titled "Virgin Mobile Live 2.0" comes on the smartphone as well. This social networking lifestyle application lets users access the Virgin Mobile music stream, hosted by DJ Abbey Braden.
The app also provides users of Android-powered devices free access to live music performance videos and "check in" features at special events. All status updates made using the app will also sync with Facebook and Twitter.
The "LG Optimus Slider" was also revealed Friday. It will be available on Oct. 17 on www.virginmobileusa.com for $199. Radio Shack and Best Buy will begin to sell it on Oct. 30 while Target and Sprint Stores will sell the smartphone on Nov. 6 and 13, respectively.
Its features include a 3.2-inch touchscreen, slide-out QWERTY keyboard, 3.2-megapixel camera, 32GB MicroSD slot and Bluetooth 3.0.
The phones are offered with "Beyond Talk" carrier plans as well. They start at $35 a month for 300 minutes of voice and include unlimited messaging and data. The $45 plan offers users 1,200 minutes of voice while the $55 plan offers unlimited voice minutes. All plans include unlimited messaging and data.
Virgin Mobile previously announced its decision to reduce throughput speeds when "Beyond Talk customers" hit 2.5GB of data usage within a month. This act has been postponed to next year.
Virgin Mobile's other Android smartphones include the "Samsung Restore", "LG Rumor Touch", "LG Rumor 2" and the "BlackBerry Curve 8530."
