Samsung Tackles Android For New Mobile Phone

By: Bill Waters
Staff Writer
Published: Dec 20, 2008

Samsung has told local press in Korea that it plans to launch its first Google Android mobile phone in 2009. The new smartphone will be sold by T-Mobile and Sprint Nextel.

Samsung Electronics said it will deploy its first Google Android mobile phone in 2009. The company plans to sell the new touch screen through T-Mobile and Sprint Nextel. Pricing and additional information were not disclosed.

"We are accelerating the development process for Google phone in order to meet the specific need of local carriers," a Samsung official said in a statement.

HTC Corp was the first handset manufacture to make the G1 Google phone for T-Mobile this year. Other than HTC, there hasn't been another smartphone company to make the jump to the Google Android platform.

Android does have other manufactures that are part of its Open Handset Alliance. Handset manufactures including LG Electronics Inc and Motorola Inc could also launch their first mobile phone using the platform in 2009. The alliance has 47 companies to date.

Google's Android platform is rapidly growing and its goal is to position itself against the Apple Inc iPhone. The platform already has solid support from major companies that either deploy software for smartphones or manufacture mobile phones.

Samsung will feature a full touch screen smartphone and a variety of mobile applications. The new phone will include Google Maps, G-Talk messenger, G-Mail and Google Search.