Google: 18 Android phones coming this year, possibly more

18 Android phones, possibly 20 on the market this year according to Andy Rubin, speaking at Google I/O. Even higher if you count all the rogue, Google App-free Android deployments that Google's not aware of. Seeing as how we're already nearly half-way through the year with just a pair of Android handsets on the market (the T-Mobile G1, HTC Magic) and just another -- the Samsung i7500 Galaxy -- officially in the chute, we're going to see a flood of product before year's end. In fact, Rubin claims the releases will come from 8 or 9 manufacturers with faster adoption seen in Europe as US carriers try to "create highly distinctive versions of the Android phone to give themselves an edge." Sure, edge, if that's what you want to call the US cartel of hoops and handcuffs then go right ahead. Interestingly, Rubin also further clarified the three flavors of Android which break down as follows:

• Google-free: Free to download version of Android without Google applications like Gmail or Google Calendar. Access to Android applications is at the whimsical fancy of the manufacturer.
  
• Strings attached: Same as above but manufacturers sign a distribution agreement with Google and pre-install the Google applications. Of Rubin's possible 20 phones, 12 to 14 fall into this category
  
• The Google Experience: Phones featuring the Google logo with all Google apps installed and includes unrestricted access (neither the carrier nor handset maker can block applications they find objectionable) to the Android market. 5 or 6 of the 20, Android phone mentioned by Rubin will deliver the full Google Experience as god and Sergey designed it.
  

Go ahead, blow it out Google, we're ready for it.

[(Unverified) Posted May 28th 2009 7:08AM]

I wonder with that many Android Phones which company will push out the most hardware? anyone want to make any predictions? i believe HTC wants to take that No.1 spot. But then again so does everyone else. I'm certainly looking forward to the Samsung i7500 but im not sure if i want to leave behind my G1 due to the keyboard it has but then again Samsung has the 3.5mm headphone jack and makes it more appealing i read it has 8GB built in Memory yes im leaning more towards Samsung at the moment.

[Greedydogtoo Posted May 28th 2009 8:11AM]

I've been waiting patientl on the Palm Pre but seeing's how it's probably not going ot reach the UK much before Xmas I bought a G1 on ebay and have to say I'm pretty impressed.... now if one of the new phones could be in a slider format with a qwerty keyboard, OLED screen, rubberised backing, 5 meg camera, up to 32 meg storage and a big battery I'd bite your hand off for one.... out of 18 will any meet my requirements?

[(Unverified) Posted May 28th 2009 9:23AM]

It's the Androids Attack!

http://mobilespoon.blogspot.com/2009/05/can-it-be-that-android-is-growing.html

(Although I must say half of the year is already behind us so that doens't leave much time for those 20 phones to show up...)

[(Unverified) Posted May 28th 2009 9:36AM]

I just want someone to release an Android phone for "BigRed"...Unfortunately I haven't heard any news on an Android CDMA. With Verizon's ODI (Open Device Initiative), hopefully one can get approved quickly so I won't have to wait until LTE is out!

[(Unverified) Posted May 28th 2009 10:25AM]

I like it.....
Good job....

[(Unverified) Posted May 28th 2009 2:08PM]

The real question is: Where are Nvidia Tegra powered Android devices?!?!?!

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 10th 2009 10:07PM]

i wish they would come very soon... But we may only get snapdragon devices this year and would have to wait one more year for tegra 2 featuring (their own implementation of) cortex a9

[esco Posted May 28th 2009 3:26PM]

Has anyone received Tmobile's android firmware update 1.5? Came across this...

http://www.themanly-man.com/

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 12th 2009 5:53PM]

Ohhhhhh yeahhhhh