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The CommunicAsia show this week has redressed some of the balance of opinion that 'open' operating systems are the only way to go on smartphones. The product that hit the biggest headlines was the Samsung Jet, which delivers a top end experience on a proprietary software platform. This has not deterred Vodafone, despite its frequent demands for fewer OSs to support - it will offer the new handset from next week in the UK and selected other territories. While Samsung and LG raise the issue of whether optimized, device-specific OSs still have a role to play in high end mobiles, Android did get a stronger look-in towards the end of the show, mainly courtesy of Huawei.

The Chinese vendor unveiled the first of its promised range of Android phones, the U8230. This is clearly designed to resemble an iPhone and comes with a 3.5-inch touchscreen that can display full or half Qwerty keyboards. Huawei's main differentiation claim for its device will strike chords with many smartphone owners, who know that one of the downsides of the full blown OSs is poor battery - the vendor claims it has the longest battery life available on an Android handset to date, thanks to a 1500mAH capacity.

Like most early Android devices, the U8230 is tightly integrated with Google applications, including the Chrome browser, Maps, Search and Talk.

Huawei also debuted a Windows Mobile phone, the C8000. Like other WinMo licensees, Huawei has added its own graphical user interface to overlay the standard Windows experience, featuring a 3D menu somewhat reminiscent of LG's S-Class and a unique independent display adapter, which claims to aid presentation of video files and DVD quality pictures on a 2.8-inch touchscreen. Huawei is targeting Samsung in the mobile video department, and says the product is capable of playing video files continuously for 6-8 hours.

Huawei spokesperson Glory Chueng said: "The U8230 and the C8000 handsets on display here at CommunicAsia take the interactivity experience of smartphones to a whole new level and Huawei is looking forward to working with our customers to bring them to market later this year." The company, which entered the handset space six years ago, has stepped up its activities recently, especially outside China, and is targeting a 74% increase in mobile devices revenues this year, which would take it over $4bn.

Also showing an Android phone - though only a prototype - was Haier, which originally planned to launch its first device based on the Linux OS in China early this year, but is now looking at a shipment date in the last quarter. Its completed product will have a 2.8-inch touchscreen display, FM radio, 2-megapixel camera, GPS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, plus a trackball.

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