Vodafone will offer three HTC handsets in the UK in April

Paul Nesbitt

Vodafone will release three HTC smartphones – the Legend, the Desire and the Google-branded Nexus One – in the UK in April; all three smartphones will run Android 2.1.

The HTC Desire and the Nexus One are similar in specifications and looks, but the HTC Desire also ships with HTC's Sense user interface, which includes access to extra widget-style apps.

The Legend and Desire both feature a 5 megapixel camera and built-in GPS, while Desire has a 3.7in touchscreen and a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, compared to the the Legend's 3.2in screen.

The HTC Legend will come with Vodafone 360, the network's own brand content and social networking user environment.

'The Legend will come pre-loaded with a range of Vodafone 360 services, including Vodafone Music and MyWeb, sitting on top of the HTC Sense user interface,' said Vodafone. The phone will still have access to the Android App Market.

Vodafone has not yet announced pricing for the HTC smartphones, or even if they will be available in monthly packages or as pay as you go phones.

Orange, T-Mobile and 3 have also promised to offer the HTC Desire some time next month.

So far UK customers have had buy the Nexus One directly from Google's website since the handset's launch in January.