It's your move, Android

Come on, give us something!

2009 was supposed to be the "year of Android." But we are now five months into 2009 and not a single new Android device has landed in the United States. And outside our borders, only the HTC Magic has arrived at carriers.

It all started at CES, when rumors abounded that a gallery of new Android devices would debut at the show. Yet, CES passed without a single Android announcement. So the focus shifted to the GSMA World Congress, but only the HTC Magic landed in Barcelona. Like a skipping record, the buzz then repeated itself for CTIA. But that show passed--you guessed it!--without any new Android models.

It's not that new handsets aren't coming; it's that they're taking so much time to get here. The FCC has certified the HTC Magic for T-Mobile USA, and Samsung and Motorola have models on their way. T-Mobile has promised more models this year, and other phone manufacturer companies are joining the chorus. The latest is Acer, which only joined the smartphone game in February. Reuters reported yesterday that an Acer exec promised an Android device by the end of the year.

Well, I've got news for you, Acer and others. I want less talk and more action. Promises are great, but as we pass into summer (or winter, depending on your hemisphere) I want to see a real handset actually go on sale. It's been seven months since the release of the G1, so the time has passed for something new and better. I'm concerned that Sprint is a member of the Open Handset Alliance, but also hedges on if it will ever offer an Android device.

I love Android's potential, but I'm impatient and I fear that if we have to wait much longer the gadget world will move on. We're getting the Palm Pre next month and a new iPhone should be on the way. It's now Android's turn to deliver the goods

[LaptuaZ]

I agree, my wife was not too happy with the look of the chubby G1, but she was 100% sold on its OS and all its features. So I told her to wait for new different types of phones, I actually told her I think new ones were due out in April...what a lie that was. She has now survived on my old T-Mobile Wing, which is a horrid device when compared against the G1, the only way I have kept her from buying a new phone is showing her pictures of "So-Called" up and coming devices. Last time we talked about a phone, she had pretty much gave up on Android and T-Mobile with is promises of Cupcake/New Devices. I'm sure she will probably end up going with a Storm or iPhone like the rest of the world due to one simple fact...electronics need to be sexy for not so tech-savy people, and super functional for us nerds that want to develop our own applications and not have to jail break a phone to do it ;)

[Ssx3000]

Please tell her not to get the Storm. I know the G1 hardware is bad, but man that phone's touch screen interface is so horrible that I rather sell my soul than buy that phone.

[Ordonator]

I don't really care about the way the G1 looks. I just need an Android device that works on a different carrier. T-Mobile's 3G coverage in my area is absolute garbage.

[atish505]

Android OS is really good. the integration with Google Maps, You tube. GTalk and Gmail is also a boon. The HTC device does nto look that great and is little chubby (with a keyboard lying underneath). However Samsung, LG, Sony Ericcson have really cool designs that they can bring to the market with Android and it will sweep the market.

One problem with Sprint and Verizon is that they are on CDMA networks (and on different bands at that). The rest of the world (90% plus) is on GSM.

Every handset maker wants their device to work on the maximum networks and thus you get good phones on GSM networks (ATT & T, T-Mobile included) whereas CDMA users just have to wait and watch from the sideline.

[UCVirus]

Amen.

My TMo contract is up at the end of June. I desperately want the Magic or i7500, and am growing more and more impatient with the continued announcement of solid phones that will be landing in June (iPhone 3.0, Pre, Storm2), with no mention of when the Android love will come, even though both the Magic and i7500 have passed through the FCC, the Magic 2 whole months ago!!!!

PLEASE HTC/SAMSUNG/TMOBILE, get your phones in order, or this phandroid might have to get himself a crackberry.