France-based device manufacturer Archos has recently unveiled a new line of three impressive no-contract, fully unlocked Android smartphones - the Archos 35 Carbon; Archos 50 Platinum, and the Archos 53 Platinum.

Though, of late, the Archos brand has chiefly been associated with bargain tablets, the unveiling of the new Android smartphone line by the company hints at its apparent attempt to target all consumer levels in the smartphone market.

In its announcement of the three new Android smartphones, Archos said that all the handsets will run on Google's mobile Android operating system; and will boast Dual SIM capabilities and 4GB onboard storage. The handsets will be as unlocked devices which will support 7.2Mbps HSPA 3G.

According to Archos, the contract-free and unlocked $220 Archos 50 Platinum will be the company's handset; with its key features being a 5-inch IPS screen; a quad-core 1.2 Ghz CPU; 1GB of RAM and an
8-megapixel back camera.

The specifications of the $250 Archos 53 Platinum will essentially be the same as those of the 50 platinum, except that it will have a bigger, 5.3-inch, screen. The entry-level Archos 35 Carbon will be a $100 handset which will feature a modest 3.5-inch screen; a single-core 1GHz processor; and 512MB of RAM.

About the new Archos handsets, the company's CEO Loic Poirier said: "The smartphone market is shifting, as SIM-free sales versus subsidized sales are increasing, and ARCHOS is prepared to respond, as we can offer retail channels affordable, unlocked and feature-rich smartphones without the need to subsidize."