Most branded handset vendors as well as vendors in China and Japan are all planning to launch Android-powered mobile phones in 2009 – a move which is likely to push the global sales of Android handsets to 5-8 million units in 2009, accounting for 4-7% of the global handset market, according to estimates by Digitimes Research.
Even prior to the massive arrival of Google phones from the leading branded vendors in the coming year, QiGi, a smartphone vendor in China, has announced the launch of its first Android-powered phone, the i6-Goal, in China. QiGi outsources production of the i6-Goal to China-based TechFaith Wireless Communication Technology, according to the companies.
Most branded vendors, including Motorola, Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics (LGE), are scheduled to launch Android-powered handset in the second half of 2009, while vendors in Japan and China-based Huawei Technologies may push the launch of their Google phones to the first half of 2009, Digitimes Research noted.
In addition, a number of non-OHA (Open Handset Alliance) handset makers are set to launch Google phones in the first quarter of 2009. Lenovo is likely to deliver a customized Android-based handset to China-based mobile operator China Mobile in February or March, Australia-based Kogan Technologies will debut its Android-enabled phones at the end of January, and the US-based Hop-on is to display its first model during CES 2009.
While High Tech Computer (HTC) is expected to ship one million G1 phones this year, the company may also start shipping Android-powered handsets to T-Mobile in Germany, said Digitimes Research, adding that HTC is also likely to make customized Android phones for Vodafone and NTT DoCoMo in 2009.
Among other Taiwan handset makers, Asustek Computer is expected to roll out its first Android handset in the first half of 2009, while Compal Communications, Inventec Appliances and Qisda may be able to come out with their respective models before year-end 2009, Digitimes Research said.
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