Google Android handsets pushed back to fourth quarter

No matter where we turn, the entire world seems to be interested about is the latest 3G Apple iPhone, but there is also another cell phone due out that could get as much or maybe even more attention. The handset in question is the Google Android powered handset, and the Wall Street Journal has been running a story about how the phone had to be pushed back to the fourth quarter of 2008.

Initially Google had planned to launch the cell phone in the second part of the year however; a number of delays have put it back to later in the year. A number of partners working on these Android handsets with Google have different launch dates. T-Mobile hopes to be able to deliver their version in the fourth period, while Sprint Nextel has said that they will not be able to have their version out this year. China Mobile is yet another partner who will have to delay their launch until some time in 2009.

There are a number of companies involved with the development of the Google Android phone; these include HTC, Intel, Motorola as well as T-Mobile, nVIDIA and Qualcomm. All of these companies have one sole purpose, and this is to develop open standards for mobile devices. Having Google working with these phone companies will be great for the user, the search engine giant hope to boost the quality of Web browsing, to do this they are enhancing the audio and video experience for mobile phones.

Andy Rubin, director of mobile platforms at Google, has been explaining that managing the software-development effort, as well as giving the partners the option for new features takes time, he said that “This is where the pain happens,” he also added that “We are very, very close.”