Report: HTC Android handset not coming until 2009

The clock may not be on Google's side as it tries to get the first Android handsets out to the public.

(Credit: Google)

Updated 4:20pm with comment from Google

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, um, 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.

In case you're new to this part of the Google empire, 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.

One good thing about Thursday's report is that 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, according to the report.

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's 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.

E-mails to Google representatives were not immediately returned, but I'll update if I hear back from them.

UPDATED 4:20pm: A Google representative said the company doesn't comment on speculation, which is just no fun at all, 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."

[Philstera]

I can see the headlines now: 2009 the Year of Linux

Same old tired story same old tired failure

[acabtp]

In all honesty, this "delay" really boils down to the mobile market already being saturated prior to Android's introduction. If HTC thought that Android was going to be a serious competitor, they would have no problem getting an Android handset out the door quickly, as the hardware isn't much different from WM hardware, and the software development is just as fast or faster. Until there is viable financial reasoning for the manufacturers to go out on a limb to be "first" to capture the Android market, they won't (and shouldn't) risk it. I do hope that Android makes it. I'm even running an early version on my AT&T Tilt [aka HTC TyTN II]; it's just that they have a long uphill battle to face.

[Mr. Dee]

There are two relevant and competing mobile platforms right now: iPhone OS X and Windows Mobile. Symbian, Blackberry and now Android are going the way of irrelevancy, Android in fact is more vaporware and more proprietary than many interested developers had originally thought. Yes, it was all about the Search and expanding Google's success beyond traditional comfort zones. Microsoft has a head start, Apple has a head start and both are seeing the fruits of their labour and who knows what can happen between now and whenever in 2009 the first Android handset hits the market?

[AppleSuxLeo]

I love it...all Google`s money and they have VAPORWARE !

[yacahuma]

If is not better than the iphone, please dont bother. Unless is really, really, really cheap.

[Galaxy5]

The screenshot is interesting. Can you spot what's missing?

[Xtoo]

Windows logo.

[62Sparkplug]

Uh, something even remotely resembling or representing a PHONE?

[Shankland]

I took the photo in May. It was from a demonstration of an actual phone, not just a software simulation.

story:
http://news.cnet.com/google-shows-touchy-feely-android-phone/

photo gallery:
http://news.cnet.com/2300-1046_3-6240422-1.html

[benjaminstraight]

Too much competition right now, is all.

[limefan913]

Folks, here's a news flash. It's not vaporware. The software is available to anyone who wants it. It's called open source. I've got a test copy running on my HTC Touch in a VM. It's quite nice actually, and looks very clean. It's got a few problems, mostly interface related but it's not bad at all.

[dctechguy]

iPhone, Windows, and Symbian (remember Nokia!) are certainly well positioned and own the market. This is just more of Google posturing and publicizing more vaporware projects. When Google starts an initiative, the entire tech world quivers, yet only the search engine advertising business is significant. If Android is anything, it is a Trojan Horse (not virus) to get Google into the mobile ad/search business on their own platform. Otherwise, this is just a lot of smoke and mirrors.

And yes, where is the phone or call button on the mock-up?

[kapstaad]

Correct: the "phone" or "call" buttons aren't visible in the picture. They are, however, visible in the Android emulator, which you (and anyone else) can download as part of the SDK (hardly 'vaporware') here: http://code.google.com/android/download.html

Another interesting excercise is to search for "HTC Dream" or "Android phone" on YouTube. Those devices aren't "mockups", they are working prototypes.

[hatmon]

I for one am very much looking forward to android. I don't see myself upgrading my phone until I know whether android is any good. The prob with iphone's OS is it's only on iphone which many people disagree with on principle. Windows and blackberry are very niche, i.e. business users. Symbian has potential, it is beckoning to me but android may sparkle enough to wait from getting a symbian phone until it can be seen what will be on offer.

[Cheep_F]

Rumor said that first Android mobile - HTC Dream - will be launched in September.

[Androidal]

I think that Android powered phones will be better then iPhone, there will be more software for Google based OS.