HTC Android-based smart phone exclusively for AIS

Hui Weng Cheong, deputy |president of AIS, said the beauty |of the Android phone was its |open-platform that allows more software developers to create applications.

The agreement between AIS and HTC will offer AIS customers a deal which includes the HTC Magic, 12 months of airtime at Bt250 and a free GPRS package with 20 hours' usage per month for six months at a total cost of Bt25,900. Serenade customers will also get a Bt1,000 discount.

Cheong said the company had not yet set a sales target because it was too early to forecast, as the offer will not be on the market until next week.

The HTC Magic package will be on sale at AIS's Telewiz and SIS retail shops.

To encourage more use of Android-based phones in Thailand, AIS also plans to collaborate with Software Park Thailand and the Software Industry Promotion Agency to encourage local software companies to develop applications for Android-based phones.

Pratthana Leelapanang, AIS assistant vice president, said the company had launched AIS Market Place Icon, which is an online store selling applications for Android-based phones. Currently, the store offers 250 applications from software developers worldwide.

"Out of this total, there are only two local applications on sale in our store. We want to encourage more Thai software developers to offer their products through it," Pratthana said.

Nattawat Woranopakul, country manager of HTC (Thailand), said HTC planned to bring six or seven more HTC Android-based phones to the Thai market throughout the year. He forecast that Android-based phones would account for 20 per cent of HTC's sales by the end of the year.