Will HTC announce an Android phone without buttons at Mobile World Congress

The first images of HTC's next handsets have made their way online ahead of next month's Mobile World Congress. Various leaks obtained by PocketNow reveal slightly varied takes on current Android designs. One image, which could be of the flagship model, closely resembles the Desire HD unveiled last September. A front-facing camera sits above what appears to be a screen measuring 4 inches diagonally.

A second, more compact, device features a traditional trackball and a 3.2-inch screen. The top right corner has what could be construed as a front-facing camera or ambient light sensor. Bearing a striking resemblance to last year's Nexus One, this miniature phone could be a possible successor to the Wildfire.

If there is anything remarkable about the third phone, it's that it doesn't feature any buttons. Shown in both HTC and Verizon branding, there is little else known about the device at this point except that the lack of buttons could mean that Android 3.0 is onboard. While Honeycomb may usher in an era of buttonless tablets like the Motorola Xoom, I can't imagine phones running this new version of Android just yet. Then again, companies have to do something to stay fresh, right

Although any of these could be based on HTC's Brew platform (Smart), the general consensus among Android blogs is that they will run the Google platform. The buttons across the bottom of the two models align with those on previously released Android smart phones.

Assuming these are real devices, I'd look for them to arrive in the wild at some point over the next few weeks. If there's one thing I've learned over the last few years it's that new Android phones love to steal the spotlight. With less than a month to go before Mobile World Congress, I'd be willing to bet that these are actual phones being readied for an announcement.

Maybe it's just me, but I was hoping for something a little sexier out of HTC. Given that we can't tell what these look like from other angles, I still find them somewhat uninspired. Don't get me wrong, I really love the feel of the Evo Shift 4G and the Thunderbolt. Perhaps the final products will be more in line with the stuff in my dreams.