Updated from 1:37 p.m.
Google(GOOG Quote - Cramer on GOOG - Stock Picks) says it will have an Android-powered phone on the market in 2008, rebutting a source's claims to the contrary.
According to a source familiar with the situation, although a large number of people are hard at work on the Gphone and the open-source operating system/platform for mobile devices (Android) the actual Gphone will not be ready for release this year.
That would mean that
Apple's(AAPL Quote - Cramer on AAPL - Stock Picks) second-generation iPhone, and the ever-growing list of about-to-be-released handsets (like the
Garmin(GRMN Quote - Cramer on GRMN - Stock Picks) nuviphone,
Research In Motion(RIMM Quote - Cramer on RIMM - Stock Picks) Blackberry Bold and Thunder, Sprint/Samsung Instinct and SonyEricsson Xperia) will now have a huge head-start over the Gphone.
However, a Google spokesperson says "We're still on track to announce Android-powered phones this year. Some of our partners are publicly stating that they plan to ship Android phones in the fourth quarter."
Even More Ideas for the Next iPhone and BlackBerry |
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The source on the initial story would not speculate on the possibility that other devices that might run on variants of Android would be ready in time for the Christmas shopping season, nor would the source elaborate on exact reasons for the delay or a possible release date for the Gphone or various Android variants.
Android, based on the Linux operating system, is being jointly developed by Google and the Open Handset Alliance. The 34-member group includes mobile operators (
China Mobile(CHL Quote - Cramer on CHL - Stock Picks),
NTT DoMoCo(DCM Quote - Cramer on DCM - Stock Picks),
Sprint Nextel(S Quote - Cramer on S - Stock Picks),
T-Mobile(DT Quote - Cramer on DT - Stock Picks),
Telecom Italia(TI Quote - Cramer on TI - Stock Picks),
Telefonica(TEF Quote - Cramer on TEF - Stock Picks)), software companies (including
eBay(EBAY Quote - Cramer on EBAY - Stock Picks), Google, Living Image, NMS, Nuance Communications, PacketVideo, SkyPop), semiconductor companies (including
Broadcom(BRCM Quote - Cramer on BRCM - Stock Picks),
Intel(INTC Quote - Cramer on INTC - Stock Picks),
Marvel(MRVL Quote - Cramer on MRVL - Stock Picks),
Nvidia(NVDA Quote - Cramer on NVDA - Stock Picks),
Qualcomm(QCOM Quote - Cramer on QCOM - Stock Picks),
Texas Instruments(TXN Quote - Cramer on TXN - Stock Picks)) and handset manufacturers (HTC, LG,
Motorola(MOT Quote - Cramer on MOT - Stock Picks) and Samsung).
Missing from this impressive list of Android companies are some very well-known cell-phone leaders AT&T,
Nokia(NOK Quote - Cramer on NOK - Stock Picks) and
Verizon's(VZ Quote - Cramer on VZ - Stock Picks) Verizon Wireless.
Gary Krakow
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