It seems like Sony Ericsson has also customized the user interface, the same reports are stating. A few of the features that have also come to light include GPS and 3G capabilities. Still no word on pricing or availability and of course we’ll have to wait for an official press release to figure out what the actual specs are so stay tuned.

A gentleman named Vic Gundotra; VP of engineering at Google, just recently at MWC 09 showed eager visitors a working version of an offline Gmail web application. As of now reports are saying that Gundotra had stated that this was just a “technical concept” right now that essentially depends on HTML5’s AppCache and Database standards, that would have the application as well as all the user data on the handset.

The same reports also mentioned that the application was running on the newest Android handset from HTC – the Magic. The application also featured a floating toolbar for tracking information like emails and browsing.

This is as official as it can get for now. However, Google has released no official statements about the apps release or its price so stay tuned.

The touchscreen HTC Magic is to be sold by British network operator Vodafone and its subsidiaries in Britain, France, Germany and Italy, the companies said at the Mobile World Congress, an industry event in Barcelona.

Rival developers are battling to create the dominant operating system for mobile phones, with Google and its Android system competing with software giant Microsoft, handset maker Nokia, an opensource Linux-based project and Blackberry.

“We are very excited to be introducing our first Android-powered smartphone in the spring,” said Patrick Chomet, global director of terminals for Vodafone.

Chinese manufacturer Huawei had revealed its first mobile phone that will run Android, meaning there are at least three “Google” phones now developed. LG and Samsung have promised their versions this year.

The first phone to use the Google software was launched by HTC in October last year in partnership with German network operator T-Mobile.

“For a new platform with open source, I am impressed with the momentum growing behind Android,” an analyst at telecom research group Informa, Gavin Byrne, told AFP.

Android is “open-source,” meaning that the basic code is free for phone manufacturers and is available to other software developers who are encouraged to build applications to add on.

Byrne said he still expected the system by Nokia, called Symbian, to remain dominant in the next five years, but that Android would establish itself as an alternative. Nokia is the world’s biggest seller of handsets. Google is hoping to establish its operating system as an industry standard, which would help drive users to its various services including Internet search, maps and chat.

HTC chief executive Peter Chou stressed that people would increasingly access the Internet from their mobile devices rather than in an office or at home – particularly in the developing world.