Demonstrating how fluid the current hardware situation is for operators, AT&T has announced several initiatives for 2010.

The first is it will be launching five new Android-based phones. Manufacturers will be HTC and Motorola as well as the first phone from Dell. This will be exclusive to AT&T.

However, mid-range devices - so-called Quick Messaging Devices that are value priced and text-centric - will be standardised using Qualcomm's new Brew Mobile Platform (Brew MP).

This will be supported by devices from Samsung for a H2 2010 launch, and followed by examples from HTC, LG, and Pantech in the latter part of the year.

AT&T said this would enable mass market customers who don't have smartphones, access to higher quality apps than previously, as well as reducing fragmentation for developers.

This will be supported by a new AT&T SDK and other development tools.

Finally, it also said it would offer its smartphone customers access to all major app stores. In some case, this will happen as it preloads the corresponding store for each device. AT&T will also include carrier billing as a payment option for as many stores as possible; something it's just agreed with Nokia for the Ovi Store.

"Applications help consumers realise the full value and benefits of mobile broadband networks, services and devices," said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets.

"Today some AT&T customers can take advantage of more than 100,000 apps, but only if they have the right handset. Our goal is to bring more apps to millions more of our customers who want convenient access to the market's hottest apps. At the same time, in the future, we plan to go well beyond mobile devices to spur apps development."