Vodafone to launch Android phone at Mobile World Congress?

Through the powerful medium of Twitter, we stumbled on a very interesting rumour this morning that appears to suggest Vodafone will launch an HTC-made Android phone at the Mobile World Congress on 17 February.

We contacted HTC and Vodafone but both denied that any announcement had been made. We think this rumour could be true, though. Unlike the iPhone, Android is an open platform, and many networks will sell Android phones this year, including T-Mobile, which appears to have leaked pictures of the 'G2'.

Vodafone recently tried to compete with O2, which offers the iPhone, and T-Mobile, which offers the Android-toting G1, with the BlackBerry Storm, but that device has received a mixed response. It would be no surprise if Vodafone has its eye on Android and wants to test the Google water this year.

We expect to see plenty of Android phones at MWC, but this is the first rumour we've stumbled across so far that sounds like it might have an official source. Other contenders for an Android phone this year include LG, Samsung and Motorola, but everyone is keeping tight-lipped.