Android Portal

Since it’s difficult to keep track of all the announcements from various handset manufacturers, we figured it would be a good idea to compile a list of upcoming and current Android phones based on the latest information.

 

Current:

 

T-Mobile G1 (HTC Dream)

Release: Sept 23, 2008
Features: touchscreen, slide-out QWERTY keyboard, GPS, WiFi

 

Upcoming:

 

Motorola

 

Release: Q2 2009 (rumored)
Features: touchscreen, slide-out QWERTY keyboard, social-networking functions
Notes: The first Motorola Android phone is supposed to be a bit higher-end than the G1 at a slightly lower price. Motorola has been showing specs and images of the phone to carriers, but the info hasn’t been leaked yet.

 

Asus Eee phone

Release: Q1 2009 (rumored)
Features: not available
Notes: Supposed to be launched in Taiwan first, world launch shortly after. May be sold under a different label outside the Taiwan market.

 

OpenMoko GTA02

Release: Late 2008 (rumored)
Features: touchscreen as primary interface, 480×640 display, GPS, Wifi
Notes: There are no firm announcements from OpenMoko at this point, so this should be regarded as speculation. Doesn’t sound outlandish, though.

 

LG

Release: Q1 2009 according to LG statement, “late 2009″ rumored
Features: not available
Notes: LG’s vice president for marketing strategy Chang Ma was quoted as saying “we will bring it out late in 2008 or early 2009″ a couple of months ago. Late 2008 seems increasingly unlikely, but according to Mirae Asset Securities the release may even be pushed back until late 2009. Not quite sure what to make of this at this point, but I guess we’ll see soon enough.

 

 

Samsung

Release: Conflicting rumors
Features: not available
Notes: Earlier rumors said Samsung was releasing one or even two Android phones in late 2008/early 2009, but the only recent news on the subject are rumors based on statements by Mirae Asset Securities indicating a release in late 2009.

 

Sprint

Release: “at some time in the future”
Features: not available
Notes: Sprint CEO Dan Hesse recently spoke in front of the National Press Club in Washington and was quoted as saying that Android in its present form is “not good enough to put the Sprint brand on it” but that an Android-powered Sprint phone would be sold “at some time in the future”.

 

 

Speculation:

 

Nokia

No commitment. Reported to be experimenting with Android.

 

Sony-Ericsson

Reported to be experimenting with Android. Public statements discouraging.

 

Hop-on

Announced sub-$200 Android phone for CES 2009 in January, but might turn out to be vaporware.