HTC’s second Android-based handset, Magic, will be available from exclusive UK carrier Vodafone on 1 May.

Several Magic launch dates have already been mentioned online, but Vodafone today told Register Hardware that the phone will “definitely” go on sale in UK stores this Friday.

You’ll get the handset for free if you sign up for Vodafone’s £35 ($50/€39) per month tariff, which includes at least 600 minutes of talk time, unlimited texts and all the mobile web you can handle.

However, you’d be wise to pre-order yourself a Magic online before 1 May because Vodafone let slip that it’ll chop £5 off of the monthly tariff price – bringing the cost down to just £30 per month – if you do.

The HTC Magic is available to pre-order online now. ®

Related stories

• Vodafone Magics up a little Google glitter (19 May 2009)

  https://www.theregister.com/2009/05/19/magic_marketing/

• Pré FAQs answered - by Sprint employee (6 May 2009)

  https://www.theregister.com/2009/05/06/sprint_employee_pre_faq/

• HTC's third Android spied online (5 May 2009)

  https://www.theregister.com/2009/05/05/htc_g3_android/

• Palm's Pré: the $170 phone (30 April 2009)

  https://www.theregister.com/2009/04/30/palm_pre_cost_isuppli/

• Acer ponders Android smartphone (30 April 2009)

  https://www.theregister.com/2009/04/30/acer_android_smartphone/

• The amazing disappearing Omnia HD (15 April 2009)

  https://www.theregister.com/2009/04/15/omniahd_invisible/

• T-Mobile and Android to renew vows? (6 April 2009)

  https://www.theregister.com/2009/04/06/tmobile_android_schedule/

• HTC unveils BlackBerry-style smartphone (1 April 2009)

  https://www.theregister.com/2009/04/01/htc_snap/

• HTC Magic to materialise next month (6 March 2009)

  https://www.theregister.com/2009/03/06/magic_vodafone_launch/

• HTC waves wand, pulls second Android phone out of hat (17 February 2009)

  https://www.theregister.com/2009/02/17/mwc_htc_vodafone_intro_magic/