Android Invasion: Andy Rubin predicts 18 Android Phones by the end of the year
According to Andy Rubin, a senior director for Mobile Platforms at Google, by the end of the year we shall see a number of Android phones released by about 8 different manufacturers. Rubin says, this number can be as high as 18 or even 20, which is definitely much more we could even expect.
We can already see Android being a reality for HTC in their HTC Magic – a 3,2” touchscreen device. There is also Samsung i7500 Galaxy on its way, and a few more we know about. Andy Rubin has refused to unveil the list of other manufacturers we can expect Android devices from, though he specified three versions on how Android will be adopted:
- No Obligations: manufacturers use a free version of Android, and can provide the applications they want. The exception if for the popular Google apps, as Gmail and Google calendar – these can not be preloaded.
- Small Strings: the manufacturers sign a distribution agreement and can pre-load applications on their devices.
- No Censorship: these devices will feature a full range of the Google applications, as well as a Google logo on them.
Though the names are not said aloud, Mr.Rubin specified, that the second variant was chosen by the majority of the manufacturers, as this is the simples way for them to be able to provide the end user with a full range of the applications.
Some say that even a number of 18 devices by the end of the year is unreachable for Android though many predict Android to become a killer of iPhone, BlackBerry and Palm systems, Symbian and the rest.