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December 19, 2008 10:14 AM PST

Report: Samsung readying Android phone

by Jonathan Skillings
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The latest to line up with word of an entry into the Android phone sweepstakes: Samsung Electronics.

Korea IT News reports that the electronics giant plans to offer a phone based on Google's Android operating system in the second quarter of 2009. The device will be released in North America through Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile USA, according to the report.

"To this end," the report says, Samsung "has added 30 experts in Linux and Java to the task force team of its information and communications division."

T-Mobile was the first carrier to offer an Android-based phone, the G1, which went on sale earlier this fall.

The Samsung device is expected to be a "full touch-screen phone" and will include "the Google Map-based location information service, messenger G-Talk, the G-mail application and Google Search," according to Korea IT News.

Samsung is a member of Google's Open Handset Alliance.

Earlier this week, China's Huawei Technologies talked about its Android plans, saying that its smartphone would be ready in the third quarter.

Jonathan Skillings is managing editor of CNET News, based in the Boston bureau. He's been with CNET since 2000, after a decade in tech journalism at the IDG News Service, PC Week, and an AS/400 magazine. He's also been a soldier and a schoolteacher. E-mail Jon.
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by Nael December 19, 2008 10:49 AM PST
Too late, I just got my iphone. I'm really impressed with all the features that Android offers and even Tmobile is a good choice but the phones .... SUCK SUCK SUCK....... Give me a an exact iPhone replica that has Android and I will drop ATT with their price gouging services in a heart beat.

Google problem is that Manufactures are slow to adopt Android and this in the end is going to be why the consumer market will not adopt their technology.

The iPhone in two word is "Simply Amazing" .
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by thelemurking December 19, 2008 11:08 AM PST
Looks like I will be trading in my Instinct soon for Android :) Cannot wait!
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by phigata December 19, 2008 12:15 PM PST
awesome. resistance is futile.
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by dpchris December 19, 2008 1:18 PM PST
I've been thinking about breaking my T-Mobile contract and moving to AT&T for a BlackBerry Bold or Verizon for a Samsung Omnia -- as I was thoroughly unimpressed by the HTC G1 -- but if Samsung can deliver an Android phone by Q2 2009 I may just wait it out with T-Mobile after all.
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by AppleSuxLeo December 19, 2008 4:25 PM PST
Sammy has the ability to make a really compelling Android phone. I passed on the half-hearted effort known as the G1 ;)
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by AlanHub December 19, 2008 7:01 PM PST
the g1 is an amazing phone, use one before you criticize.
by Jouten_Za December 19, 2008 10:56 PM PST
Samsung will definitely have a major impact on the implementation of Android on a 'full' touchscreen phone. Look at the Eternity, it is amazing and all it's using is it's own proprietory OS and Java! A Samsung Eternity with Android would be a 1-2 Knockout punch for sure!
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by AZNpeoples December 22, 2008 8:18 AM PST
i dont think the eternity is comparable

i would say a good match up is the omnia and the samsung android phone

eternity and behold are just kinda not in the same category that these other phones are
by Airinnajera December 19, 2008 11:15 PM PST
Yay android...boo samsung...sorry...samsung is the next cheap mainstream phone company!
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by dctech08 December 20, 2008 12:32 PM PST
not enough info. Samsung has so many touch devices that lack something. i sure they will find a way to fall short on the quest to kill the (king "iphone")
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by pedspeds December 21, 2008 9:28 AM PST
I think Samsung will be the first to come out with a really GOOD Android phone. HTC's Android phone was sorely disappointing.

And I doubt that Motorola would be able to come up with anything better than Samsung can come up with, so I am going to wait for Samsung's entry into the Android game.
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by 0820798 December 22, 2008 6:47 AM PST
ah, helllloooo!!! the android is a htc product! not samsung. ihav an android and no where on it it says samsung!
Reply to this comment
by AZNpeoples December 22, 2008 8:20 AM PST
what are you talking about!!

we all know that it was htc to make the first android phone!
we're just saying we have high expectations for samsungs android phone so we're saying it'll be the first GOOD one like pedspeds said
by grilledcharlie December 22, 2008 9:14 AM PST
Ah, helllloooo!! The windows is a dell product! Not hp. I have a windows and nowhere on it it says hp!
by J5Chicago December 22, 2008 9:28 AM PST
hi. Android is the name of the mobile operating system from Google and not the name of the hardware. That's the whole deal behind Android, having a platform that works across multiple mobile devices as opposed to just being stuck with the mobile operating system that the hardware manufacturer puts on the phone.

I will also say, regardless of what people think about Google and the way it captures and looks at your info, this is a huge step forward for mobile phones and the information and features available. This will only get better. I personally look forward to eliminating paper from my daily routine and using my phone to purchase everything.
by judy4all February 4, 2009 12:19 PM PST
lol @ grilledcharlie.....

@ 0820798........Dude they are talking about android-based mobile phone that WILL BE released in the 2nd Qtr of 09, not the one that has already been released.
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