Mobile phone carrier Rogers Wireless has just launched a new handset on its airwaves, the Samsung Galaxy Spica, which runs under Google's Android operating system. The wireless operator has put the Galaxy Spica on sale with a price tag set at $79.99 upon the signing of a three-year contract agreement, or $449.99 free of contract, but other options are also available for those interested in making a purchase.

“The Samsung Galaxy Spica will help you get the most out of life. It comes loaded with a 3.2 MP camera, GPS and Wi-Fi. As well as a powerful processor to help you run multiple applications while on the go so you can stay in touch with your family and friends. Explore the Android Market for new and exciting apps to customize your Samsung Galaxy Spica,” is how Rogers describes the phone on its website.

Those who might not be familiar with what the device includes should know that it comes with an 800 Mhz processor on board, along with a 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen display that boasts a 320 x 480 pixel resolution, a 3.2-megapixel photo snapper with video recording capabilities, and 82 MB of internal memory, coupled with a microSD memory card slot with support for up to 32 GB of additional storage space.

The handset comes with support for HSPA (850/1900 MHz) connectivity at 3.6 Mbps, as well as for GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz frequencies, and includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, along with built-in GPS receiver. The Samsung Galaxy Spica measures 115 x 57 x 12.9 mm and weighs in at 122 g, while its battery can deliver up to 7 hours of talk time or up to 10 days of standby time.

On the downside, the Samsung Galaxy Spica features only the 1.5 version of the Android operating system, although Samsung did promise that Android 2.1 will come to it shortly. We've already seen a leaked Android 2.1 ROM for the device, and the official update might be on its way in the near future but, until that happens, Rogers' users will benefit only from the older platform version.