HTC Hero and Spotify arriving on 3 next month
The HTC Hero is coming to the 3 network and deals will include subscriptions to Spotify Premium.


3 has announced that it will be offering the HTC Hero from next month - the first time that the network has had an Android-based smartphone on its books.
The Hero will be available on a 35 per month contract and, to sweeten the deal, 3 will be bundling the device with a Spotify Premium subscription. This will last for two years, matching the length of the minimum contract deal. However, the phone will still cost 99 upfront.
As part of the competitive deal, users will also get 750 minutes to any network, unlimited texts, unlimited web browsing, and free Skype-to-Skype calls.
The mobile version of Spotify was released last month simultaneously for the iPhone and Android platforms. That said, it was only available in a Premium version costing 9.99 a month, as opposed to the free, ad-supported desktop version.
The 3 deal is the first to offer Spotify Premium as part of a mobile contract.
"This partnership continues our commitment to bring popular internet services to our customers. Spotify Mobile is a fantastic digital service, which gives consumers the ability to enjoy and share music in an affordable way", Charlotte Blanchard, director of products and services at 3, said in a statement.
Blanchard also said that 3 would be extending the deal to mobile broadband customers at some point in the future.
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The deal puts 3 in direct competition with Nokia's Comes With Music handsets, whereby those purchasing a compatible handset gain access to thousands of music tracks too.
Benny Har-Even is a twenty-year stalwart of technology journalism who is passionate about all areas of the industry, but telecoms and mobile and home entertainment are among his chief interests. He has written for many of the leading tech publications in the UK, such as PC Pro and Wired, and previously held the position of technology editor at ITPro before regularly contributing as a freelancer.
Known affectionately as a ‘geek’ to his friends, his passion has seen him land opportunities to speak about technology on BBC television broadcasts, as well as a number of speaking engagements at industry events.
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