Voda's Magic Google phone free on $69 cap

Following the HTC Magic release last week and pricing announcement by 3, Vodafone will offer the Google Android phone free on a $69 per month cap over 24 months.

The touchscreen device is available through Vodafone's Web site from June 4 and in stores from June 10.

Plans begin at $69 for $400 of calls and text messages and 1GB of data, and go up to a $114 cap for “unlimited” calls and text messages and 2GB of data.

The HTC Magic caps are available to both consumer and small business Vodafone customers.

Voda will also offer an 8GB memory card and standard 24-month warranty with every HTC Magic.

Unlike the HTC-branded Magic, the Vodafone-branded one supports firmware-over-the-air (FOTA) updates and geo-tagging.

“Vodafone customers will always have the very latest Android software on their HTC Magic device as Vodafone will push out firmware upgrades to ensure any improvements, developed over the coming months, are automatically downloaded onto customers’ devices,” according to Vodafone.

The device will also come loaded with Google’s suite of services such as Gmail, Google Maps and Google Search.

General manager of consumer markets at Vodafone Australia, Edward Goff, said the HTC Magic launch coincides well with the company's expanding 3G network, which will cover 94 per cent of the Australian population by August 31, 2009.