NTT DoCoMo to get HTC Magic as HT-03A

by Chris Ziegler posted May 8th 2009 at 7:52AM

At a glance, an unassuming little smartphone like the HTC Magic doesn't really seem like it'd stand a chance against the beastly hardware unleashed every season by Japanese carriers, but here's the thing: it's going to be Japan's first released Android phone, which makes it a pretty big deal anyway. A tweaked version of the Magic has just passed the FCC as the HT-03A, falling into line with the classic naming convention employed for HTC handsets on NTT DoCoMo -- and the FCC filing means that it'll have global roaming for frequent flyers. We can't help but feel like the Samsung i7500 is somehow more technologically appropriate to kick off Japan's Android offerings, but hey, we suppose it's a start.

[Via Akihabara News and memn0ck]

Filed under: Handsets, HTC, NTT DoCoMo, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA, UMTS, Android

Tags: android, ht-03a, japan, magic, ntt docomo, NttDocomo

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

miro @ May 8th 2009 8:11AM

Can't say that I like the new button layout so much. The menu button is used pretty heavily, even on Cupcake. Same for the back button - although I do like that they're raised a little.

Neutral

astroboy_888 @ May 19th 2009 10:41AM

Android a linux based mobile OS was designed to be on hardware platform for WinMo. It is no surprise that HTC being the dominant player on the WinMo handset market, the first on the market with a Android phone. HTC owns about 30% of overall smart handset market, so it is not a "small player". It is surprising though that the Japanese virtually ignored the "smart handset" market for years.

I am not sure how Samsung could be considered "more technologically advanced" when most of the internal components comes from the same supply chain. Perhaps Samsung is just not a big brand in Japan like it is in the US. Or that that NTT Docomo found that HTC was easier to work with. Maybe a cultural rivalry thing? Not sure.

Neutral

yukster @ Jun 13th 2009 6:56AM

Actually, Samsung has been manufacturing phones for Softbank for quite a while now, and Docomo has just release some phone for LG. You can also get a Omnia on Softbank and Docomo, which is quite impressive. The integrated 1Seg TV tuner gives it greater market appeal than other WinMo phones that do not have that feature built in.

Astroboy, you should check your facts too. Not sure where you get the "cultural rivalry thing."