The Ascend Y100 costs just $99. Obviously its specs aren't going to match those of smartphones costing nearly ten times as much, the Y100 will surely help meet predictions that something like 90% of Australians will be using smartphones within the next couple of years.

It features a 2.8in QVGA display, measures just over 11mm thick, runs Android 2.3, and the b/g/n Wi-Fi support includes personal hotspot capability.

For those looking for something a little more upmarket, there's the $169 Ascend G300. This one's closer to what we expect of a smartphone.

There's a 4in, 800x480 display, 5MP camera with autofocus and flash, and a 1GHz processor plus an Adreno 200 graphics processor.

And what's the catch? These two new smartphones are only available from Vodafone. Regardless of what you think about any particular carrier or retailer, there's something inherently unhealthy about restricting the availability of products in this way.

There's no indication whether or not the handsets are locked to Vodafone's network.

"With Vodafone as our valued partner, we are pleased to add two more smartphones to the Ascend range to suit everyone's pockets and lifestyles – this is testament of our commitment to our customers' needs. In terms of specs and looks, the Huawei Ascend G300 and the Huawei Ascend Y100 count among the best in their respective classes," commented Mark Treadwell, head of marketing, Huawei Device.