Expansys is almost shipping Milestone

ACCORDING TO Expansys, customers who have pre-ordered the exclusive Motorola Milestone Android-based smartphone should have their units shipped out at the end of this week.

In late November we reported that the online retailer, which has the exclusive right to sell the handset, would start shipping the £450 units at the end of last week. However, a call to the customer services line today revealed that this target has not been met, and in fact a shipment that was supposed to turn up earlier is due to arrive either today or tomorrow.

This initial delivery will be used to satisfy pre-order demands, while another, which is due to arrive next week, will be shipped to all other customers, according to the sales rep we spoke with.

Expansys is first to sell the handset, and will ship it unlocked across all networks. Many are calling the Google Android-based handset, with its QWERTY slide out keyboard, a serious competitor for the Iphone.

In its first week of sales in the US, 250,000 handset units - which over there are called the Droid - found their way to consumer palms and pockets.

A note on the Expansys website claims, "If you order this product before 4:30pm today, UK customers can expect shipment in 1 working day". Or once, we presume, Expansys has received its own shipment. µ