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HTC Hero

The company said the Hero has a new feature called "Sense" that allows users to customize up to seven home screens -- such as adding email and stock quotes on a "work screen" or local weather and maps on a "travel screen."

The handset also offers HTC Footprints, an application that lets users create digital postcards with photos, audio clips and GPS coordinates.

Additional features include a 3.2-inch Teflon-coated smudge-free touch screen, 5.0-megapixel auto-focus camera, GPS with digital compass and access to Facebook and Twitter.

"The HTC Hero revolves around three basic principles -- make it mine, stay close and discover the unexpected," said Jason Mackenzie, HTC America's vice president. "People want their mobile device to conform to their needs and wants and easily keep them in touch with the most important people in their lives."

The Hero will be the third smartphone to use Android, Google's open-source operating system.

Google and T-Mobile released the T-Mobile G1, the first so-called "Google Phone," in October of last year. The carrier released its newest Android smartphone, the T-Mobile MyTouch 3G, earlier last month.

Sprint said the HTC Hero will be available on October 11 for $180 with a two-year contract.

Several other handset makers, including Motorola, Samsung and Sony Ericsson, have announced plans to unveil Android phones before the end of the year.