Taiwanese mobile phone maker HTC Corporation announced not too long ago the release of its third mobile phone running under the Google Android operating system, and, while we already know that the phone will be added to the offerings of T-Mobile and Orange, it seems that users in the UK will also have the possibility to purchase it unlocked from Amazon.

The new Android-based device is expected to start shipping with Amazon on July 15, and those who would really like to grab it can already place pre-orders for it on the website. The price tag for the HTC Hero has been set at £429.99, which is about $710 USD, and which might seem a little too much for some.

According to the news, the July 15 shipment date is not a fix one, and things might change in the meantime, though the phone is reported to be “dispatched and sold by Amazon.co.uk themselves.” There are no further details on the launch, and we might learn that the handset will become available via other retailers or carriers earlier than that date.

One way or another, it seems that mobile phone users in the UK will be able to enjoy the new HTC Hero earlier than those in the US. And since the handset comes with a series of improvements over the previous versions, while also sporting a brand new user interface, the HTC Sense, Android enthusiasts in the UK have a good reason to rejoice.

Other specs on the new device include a 3.2-inch TFT-LCD touchscreen display, a 5.0-megapixel photo snapper, Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR/A2DP, Wi-Fi connectivity, GPS receiver a 528 MHz processor, ROM: 512 MB, RAM: 288 MB, G-sensor, Digital Compass, microSD memory card slot for additional storage space, Trackball and a 1350 mAh battery. The handset can be seen on Amazon here.