Google's Android platform reached its first smaller US carrier on Monday night with adding the HTC Hero to its lineup. The smartphone is very close close to the Sprint version with the same "chinless" design, CDMA/EVDO support and Sense UI but will make Sprxmobile's Layar augmented reality point-of-interest app a highlighted download. In hardware, the 5-megapixel camera, GPS, Wi-Fi and 3.5mm headphone jack carry over.

Despite being a smaller carrier, Cellular South has managed to preempt Sprint's October 11th launch for the Hero by shipping it just under a week earlier, on October 5th. Pricing for this version hasn't been detailed, though the Sprint edition will sell for $180 after both a contract deal and a rebate.