O2 Germany to launch 6-8 Android handsets in 2009

Mobile games firms are excited about Android in theory, but in practise they're waiting for more handsets than the launch G1 to go on sale before getting too carried away.

However, it seems 2009 won't disappoint them, judging from comments reportedly made by O2 at its Innovation Day event in Munich on Wednesday.

The report quotes an O2 product manager as saying "we want to get out 6 to 8 Android devices this year" (this is a translation of the original German quote).

It's the first public statement - as far as we're aware - of O2's plans for Android. Indeed, many operators have chosen not to outline how many Google-powered phones they plan to launch this year.

We're intrigued by how Android may fit in with O2's recently-launched Litmus application store in the months ahead. Perhaps more information will be forthcoming at this month's Mobile World Congress show.