ZTE Optimus Barcelona Android smartphone spotted, confusion ensues

Just like Huawei (another giant Chinese company), ZTE has unveiled a series of new smartphones – including a quad-core Android one – last week at MWC 2012, this way showing that it really wants to expand its global market share.

However, there are new ZTE handsets that weren’t presented at MWC – like the ZTE Optimus Barcelona (ironically named after the city where MWC is being held for years). The new device has recently appeared both at the Bluetooth SIG, and the Wi-Fi Alliance. It features 3G and Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, seems to run Android 2.3 Gingerbread, and is made for Europe. But its name is just weird.

First of all, LG has Optimus Android smartphones since early 2010, and I’m pretty sure it won’t want other manufacturers to introduce similarly-named handsets. And suing would be one way to stop them.

Second, the name may suggests that Orange could launch this device under its own brand – it’s well known that the mobile operator takes ZTE-made smartphones and sells them under names like “Orange San Francisco”, “Orange Stockholm” or “Orange Monte Carlo.” However, there already is an Orange Barcelona – an entry-level QWERTY candybar with Android 2.2, released last year.

So, we don’t really know what to make out of this new ZTE Optimus Barcelona (pictured above). But maybe an official announcement will follow soon, to shed some light on the matter. We’ll let you know if it does.

If you liked the post, you might find these interesting too:

• Orange Barcelona will cost £119.99 on PAYG, free with £15 per month contracts
• UK: Orange Barcelona now available for £99 on PAYG, Orange Stockholm gets priced too
• Android-based Orange Barcelona coming soon
• LG P930 to be a new Android tablet. Or maybe a phone with a 1280 x 720 display?
• Dual SIM versions of LG Optimus L5 II and L7 II called Optimus Duet (in Taiwan)

« Samsung expands Android apps to control air conditioners, cleaning robots, and washing machinesSamsung says the Galaxy S III will be announced “in the first half of the year” »

© 2008 Stasys Bielinis | Powered By WordPress | Design by Pro Blog Design | Unwired View Privacy Policy