Another report has surfaced predicting a delay in the introduction of handsets with Google's Android software.
Unlike The Wall Street Journal report from a few weeks ago, which said that Android would be delayed from Google's stated expectations of the second half of 2008 to the second half of 2008, this one is a bit more pointed. Barron's Tech Trader Daily picked up a research note from Trip Chowdhry of Global Equities Research saying that his "contacts" are saying that HTC's Android handset is being delayed until the first quarter of 2009.
Google's Android is a Linux-based collection of mobile phone software, including an operating system, a browser, and other applications. The company announced Android to much fanfare last year as a bid to unify the world of mobile Linux and set up Google as a dominant player on the next big computing frontier. HTC was expected to be one of the first handset makers to release an Android handset.
According to Thursday's report, Google has apparently settled on a required list of applications and features that need to accompany any phone with the Android logo: that was up in the air as recently as a few months ago. The problem, however, is that HTC is having "structural problems" making that feature list run on one of its phones, the report said.
The other problem for Google raised by the report is that software developers are said to have their hands full with the mobile phone software that is actually available for development, such as Windows Mobile, Symbian, BlackBerry, and the iPhone. HTC is worried enough about a lack of attention as to demand a "minimum revenue guarantee" from Google in exchange for launching an Android handest.
Responding to ZDNet Asia's sister site CNET News.com's request for comment, a Google representative said the company does not comment on speculation, but said "we remain on schedule to deliver the first Android-based handset this year and we're very excited to see the momentum continuing to build behind the Android platform among carriers, handset manufacturers, developers and consumers".
This article was first published as a blog on CNET News.com.
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Another worth waiting mobile set?
Posted by anonymous on Tuesday, September 09 2008 09:54 AM