Touch-screen mobile phones are the latest trend in India, and cell phone manufacturers have captured this new wave by launching several models, priced to suit both common and rich men’s pockets.

With the launch of HTC Android Phone in India (2009) , the existing smartphone market faces a tough competition. Unlike Apple’s iPhone and Nokia’s N97, android is an open-source platform readily available for use and development without Google’s formal involvement. Even though the smart phone runs on Google’s open-source android operating system, yet the phone is not branded under the google’s banner, unlike HTC Dream launched as T-Mobile G1 in the US.

HTC Magic, a touch-screen mobile phone, running on Google Android OS, is available in India through Airtel priced at 30k INR and Airtel customers can monthly download 100 MB for free. It’s an unlocked phone, which can be used, on other GSM networks in India. Thus, HTC Magic can be purchased from Airtel and SIM of other cellular networks – BSNL, Realiance, Vodafone, TATA Indicom, etc. can be used.

The HTC Magic is Wi-Fi enabled and features a 3.2 Megapixel camera (records both still photos and video). It also offers a unique feature – “bar code application”, hence while shopping, barcode of any product can be instantly scanned to gather more information on it.

HTC hero is the next smart phone to be launched in India. The phone features a 5 megapixel camera, a native Flash player (first android smart phone to own it) and support for Windows Media files along with MP4 (MPEG-4) video format (present in HTC Magic).

Apple iPhone 3G is the most high-profile touch-screen phone yet in India, while Sony Ericsson is struggling to make its’ mark in the Indian market.

Gee Pee (Kolkata based company) recently launched India’s cheapest touch-screen phone. Priced at 7,500 INR and custom-made in China, Gee Pee will provide a tough competition in price section of touch-screen phone market.