LG reveals GT540 Android phone

There was plenty of Android-related news at this year’s CES, but while Google’s Nexus One dominated the column inches, other devices were given the back seat.

One such phone is LG’s GT540, an attempt to break into the lower end of the Android sector. There’s been little buzz about the device, which is a shame because its savvy combination of Viewty-style aesthetics and no-nonsense operating system could prove successful.

You see, while the phone is pleasant to look at - with shiny accents and a glossy finish - it’s actually packing a very basic version of the Android operating system. There’s none of your MotoBlur-style dedicated user interface here, which will irk those of you that adore social networking.

This might actually turn out to be a blessing when you consider how fragmented the Android market is now becoming thanks to so many manufacturers producing their own proprietary software.

The GT540 is a European exclusive and comes with a 3 megapixel snapper, 3.5mm headphone jack (yay!) and doesn’t have a physical keyboard. It’s expected to hit stores in the next month or so, and will presumably be priced at the lower end of the scale.

If you’re keen to experience Google’s utopian vision of a mobile future but can’t afford to mortgage the house in order to purchase a Nexus One, then this is worth keeping an eye on.