Android-based device prototypes displayed |
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By Ed Hardy, Editor-in-Chief
18 Feb 2008 | Brighthand.com |
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Android-based prototypes are appearing though actual releases are not expected until the middle of the year. With the first releases not expected until the second half of this year, no company is ready to unveil Android-powered smartphones at Mobile World Congress this week. However, several prototypes are being shown off.
The completeness level of these varies widely, though.
Several of these prototypes have been created by chip makers, and are there to show off this upcoming operating system running on one of their processors. These companies generally have the components of a smartphone collected on test board, with no attempt to make these into a pocket-size device (see an example).
ARM, NEC, Qualcomm, and TI all are showing off prototypes in this way.
Still, there is one prototype of a model being shown around Mobile World Congress that looks like a smartphone. This is has been put together by ARM.
Any others?
If HTC is demonstrating the Android model it has talked about before, which it says will launch this fall, it's doing so in back rooms away from the public eye.
There has also been no sign of the Android-powered smartphone Dell was rumored to be unveiling at this tradeshow.
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