Disqus
Google’s I/O conference wasn’t just a good place to get your hands on a free HTC Magic, it was a great place to get the down-low on upcoming Android hardware. In it’s first official comment regarding upcoming Android smartphones, Google has confirmed that the mobile world will welcome at least 18 new Android OS-powered smartphones by the end of 2009. Google’s senior director for Mobile Platforms, Andy Rubin, noted that we might see upwards of 20 Android phones hitting market by year’s end.
For the eight or nine distinct cellphone manufacturers confirmed to be working on the 18 to 20 new Android handsets for launch later this year, Google will offer three different versions of Android OS: a completely free and generic flavor with no pre-loaded Google applications; a slightly-customized version of Android OS that comes pre-loaded with Google apps like Gmail and Google Calendar; and a completely “Google-fied” Android OS bearing all sorts of Google branding and integration with Google’s services.
We’re told that 12-14 of the upcoming Android phones are expected to use the slightly-customized version of Google’s Android OS. This version of Android will apparently require the manufacturer to agree to a distribution deal with Google that would allow the handsets to come pre-installed with Google-ware.
The remaining 5 or 6 Android phones will come to market completely decked out with “The Google Experience.” These phones will bear the “Google” logo on the handset and will come pre-installed with all sorts of Google apps. Furthermore, these phones will be censor-free – neither the manufacturer or carrier can restrict access to even the most objectionable content on the Android Market. This option carries the risk of forcing carriers and manufacturers to allow access to controversial Android applications – like the Baby Shaker app that landed Apple in some hot water recently.
The 18-20 expected Android phones are limited to handsets that Google has been officially approached with by mobile phone manufacturers. As with all things mobile, expect to see tons of cheaper Chinese-made devices going live with generic Android operating systems. Making cheap off-brand handsets that mimic brand-name devices in form and function is what the Chinese mobile market has become known for.
[Via: Bits]
About The Author
Will Park
Will hails from The City of Angels - Los Angeles, California. He spends his time playing with his numerous gadgets and looking forward to seeing what future holds for mobile technology. An avid promoter of a fully "digital" life, he promotes the widespread adoption of truly mobile, paper-less living. He dreams of the day when he can go completely digital. No more snail mail, paper receipts, bound books, notepads/spiral notebooks, credit cards, hard currency. He's a digital warrior - fighting for the converged life. He is an idealist and a realist - he has a perfect view of what the world should be but knows that the world is not perfect. Can we ever hope to see Will's dream become reality? We'll see...
