The mobile phone High
Tech Computer (HTC) has been developing to run on the Android software from
Google will be called "Dream," have a large touchscreen and full QWERTY
keypad, a person close to the situation said Thursday.
HTC may become the first handset maker in the world to put out a mobile phone
developed around Android,
but it faces stiff competition from Samsung,
a separate source said. Samsung has stepped up its effort to put out a Google
phone, the person said.
HTC's Google handset is just over 5-inches long and 3-inches wide, with a keypad
underneath the screen that either slides out or swivels out. The aim of the
keypad is for easy e-mail, note-taking and writing Web addresses.
Internet navigational controls are situated below the screen on the handset.
The handset will likely hit the market near the end of this year, the person
said.
The company officially remained mum on the handset.
"We cannot comment on this product," said Maggie Cheng, an HTC representative.
Last November, HTC became the first company to admit to developing a mobile
phone based on Android, although Samsung, Motorola and other handset developers
are part of the group dedicated to furthering the software, the Open
Handset Alliance.
Android, an open source software platform that includes an OS, is designed
to take advantage of Internet services for mobility. The software could become
a potent new rival to Windows Mobile and other handset operating systems. At
the launch ceremony, Google announced that over 30 companies had joined the
Open Handset Alliance.
