Samsung has announced that it will be releasing three mobile handsets running Google’s Android OS this year. These devices have been on the cards for some time now, but had been put on hold due to Samsungs concerns over Google’s attitude towards openness. But the releases are now back on track, with the first handset expected to be available by June.
What are the details?
Details are actually pretty sketchy right now, but here’s some of what we know:
• The first phone, which will be available by June, won’t be available in the US, and may not even be for Europe
• At least one of the handsets is being designed to be very close to the recently launched Samsung Omnia in function
• Europe is getting one handset, which will be available across different operators
• The other two are going to different operators, one of which is T-Mobile
What we think?
According to Arstechnica, Googles recent willingness to co-operate with carriers is one of the main factors in getting this handset release back on track. Google’s dedication to complete openness was making operators very nervous – none of the carriers want the mobile web to end up being like the on-line web, where pretty much everything is free. I can understand their skittishness. And to be honest, it seems to be paying off for Google. This is the second story I’ve written about them today, and my next story is going to be about Android as well.
