Mobile provider Vodafone has announced its latest carrier-branded smartphone, an Android 2.2 device with a 2.8-inch screen known as the 858 Smart.

Looking beyond the Vodafone re-branding, the Smart is a Huawei U8160 based around a Qualcomm MSM7225 SoC. Its specs are decidedly on the lower end of the smartphone spectrum, with Vodafone positioning the device for entry-level smartphone users. For example, the phone’s display is not just small but is relatively low resolution at only QVGA 320 x 240; the HP Veer, for comparison, has a smaller 2.6-inch screen but at a crisper 320 x 400 resolution. There’s also no splurging on the smartphone’s camera, which measures in at just two megapixels.

So, what does the Smart have going for it? It’s going to be a pay-as-you-go model on Vodafone, attracting users who don’t want the hassle of a long-term contract, and still manages to be quite affordable at 90 euros. There will also be a wide assortment of color options to choose from, offering plenty of personalization options, as well as the opportunity to design custom covers through Vodafone’s website.

The Vodafone 858 Smart will launch in Germany, Italy, and the UK this summer.