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Samsung Android handset in H1 2009?

Its first Google phone could arrive sooner than expected

January 26, 2009

Is Samsung readying an Android handset for release in the first half of the year? A recent conference call to analysts by Chi Youngcho, head of Samsung's digital media and communications unit, certainly suggests an Android smartphone is nearing completion.

Youngcho said:

"In the first half of this year, for touchscreen phones we will expand our line-up and upgrade some of the functions including the user interface and for smart phones expand our line-up and provide various OSes to satisfy the diverse needs of our customers."

Samsung is a member of the Open Handset Alliance, but like most manufacturers it has yet to release an Android-based phone.

It did say earlier this month it was "accelerating the development process for Google phones in order to meet the specific needs of local carriers" but it hasn't given any dates.

We suspect several new Android handsets to lead the Android news at the Mobile World Congress next month. Google's recent announcement that the Android market application count has surpassed 800 may hurry some more models into production.