google-android-lg1Google expects at least 18 phones based on Android operating system to be available in the market by the end of this year. Andy Rubin, senior director for Mobile Platforms for Google, said that at least 18 to 20 devices will be made by eight to nine different manufacturers compared to only two Android Centric Phones at present - T-Mobile’s G1 in US and Magic made by HTC in Europe. Read on to know more details.
The domestic markey of United States is very competitive. For this reason, the carriers and handset makers would want to create highly distinctive version of their Android Phones making the process of launching their phones slower than Europe.
There are several competitors of Android Phones like Apple’s iPhone system, Microsofts’ Windows Mobile, Blackberry platform, Symbian OS and many Linux based system.
There are three options which will give three different flavors of Android. The obligation free option is fully free version but the manufacturers can not preload popular Google applications like Gmail or Google Calender. The small strings option is also free but the manufacturers have to sign a distribution agreement to include the Google applications. Major fraction of the manufacturers are expected to subscribe to this option to launch 12 to 14 of the 18 to 20 phones coming this year. The bigger strings option is called “The Google Experience”. The phones having this options will carry a logo of Google on their body. These handsets will have some applications that the carrier and the handset makers would agree not to remove from the phone.  Let’s wait to see if 2009 becomes the year of Android or not.

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