June launch for HTC Magic in Australia, NZ

HTC in Australia and Vodafone New Zealand today announced the launch of the world's second Android-powered handset, the HTC Magic.

The Magic will launch "in June" according to statements made by Vodafone NZ, with pricing to be announced shortly. The Magic will be the first smartphone released in New Zealand to feature the Android OS. Australians should see the Magic down under in around the same time, though Vodafone Australia — or any of the other mobile operators — is yet to announce plans to release it locally.

"It's very exciting to be the first to bring an Android handset to New Zealand and add one of the best mobile internet brands to our line up," said Kursten Shalfoon, Vodafone's general manager of Products, Pricing and Internet.

Android is the name given to Google's operating platform for mobile devices, which launched in 2008, but to date has only been available in one handset, the HTC Dream (aka T-Mobile G1 in the US and Europe). Multiple manufacturers have been linked to Android handset production, but HTC and Samsung are the only companies to have shown handsets running the platform at this time.

For more information, check out our first impressions of the Magic, or take a peek at the hands-on photo gallery taken by our friends at CNET UK.