Rogers Wireless, Canada’s largest mobile operator, will offer two phones based on Google’s Android platform from next month. The two phones, the HTC Dream and the HTC Magic, are already available elsewhere in the world, though Rogers is set to be the first mobile operator to offer both. The HTC Dream was the first Android-based handset to be launched last year, and is offered by T-Mobile across numerous markets branded as the T-Mobile G1. Vodafone, meanwhile, has recently launched the HTC Magic in Europe. The HTC Dream features a touchscreen and slide out QWERTY keyboard, while the HTC Magic uses only a touchscreen. Rogers gave no further information on availability or pricing, though a countdown on its new Android website suggests a launch date of 2 June.

In a statement, Rogers said that the two devices would be the first in Canada to offer optimised access to a range of Google mobile services, including Google Search, Google Maps and Gmail. “Both devices offer outstanding wireless internet search capabilities and a full suite of applications that run two times faster on Canada’s fastest mobile network,” said John Boynton, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at Rogers Wireless. As the only major GSM operator in Canada, Rogers has had a significant advantage over CDMA-based rivals Telus and Bell Mobility in being able to offer high-profile GSM-based devices. Rogers is already the exclusive carrier of Apple’s iPhone 3G and the BlackBerry Bold in the country.