Free Version of Angry Birds Arrives on Android Phones

A full-featured version of the immensely popular mobile game Angry Birds, has finally arrived for Android-powered Smartphones. And get this: it’s free. Yes, you read that correctly, free! After dropping $4.99 for the iPad version, which with it’s gorgeous big screen is really the ideal platform for the game in my opinion, I’m also excited by the ability to finally destroy those insolent pigs while on-the-go.

In case you’ve been off-the-grid in a remote area with no electricity and no 3G service for the past year and have no idea what I’m talking about, Angry Birds is an addictive mobile app featuring 195 unique levels that has gamers sling-shotting little birds through the air to destroy a vast array of towers and defensive structures that house little green pigs.

Destroy the structures, destroy the pigs and you move onto the next level. It sounds simple, but its execution is so charming and so addictive, that it’s been one of the top paid iPhone apps in the world.

Angry Birds creator Rovio, claims the game is now in 67 countries, including many Middle Eastern nations, China, and Russia. For several months now, the game has remained at the number one spot for several months in Apple’s app store. Priced at $0.99, it’s been downloaded more than six million times. The new HD version of the game for the iPad runs $4.99 and really takes advantage of the device’s much larger screen.

However, Android fans hungry for fast and fun games on their mobile devices, can finally join in on the fun too. According to Rovio’s blog, you can download the game from GetJar, Android Market or Motorola SHOP4APPS. The game includes 150 levels and is currently free, but ad-supported. Angry Birds will run on second generation Android devices and upwards, with Android platform 1.6 or later. Your device needs to support OpenGL ES 2.0. Angry Birds Android features mobile advertising. A future update will include the option to purchase the full version and opt out of advertisements.

I was able to quickly search the Market on my Droid Incredible and locate the game easily. I recommend using the Market to download the free app, however you can also download it from GetJar if you’d prefer. Gameplay is a blast and the mobile ads are infrequent and pop into an area that is extremely unobtrusive. In fact, I barely noticed they were there.

So what are you waiting for? Get the game and start destroying those pesky pigs!