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Google's Schmidt Talks Up Android's Future, Suggests 2009 Will Be A Big Year

During Google's recent quarterly earnings conference call, CEO Eric Schmidt spent a few moments addressing Google's mobile phone platform, Google. He said there's be some significant announcements regarding Android and implied that things are looking good.

There's been some disappointment (at least as far as tech bloggers are concerned) with the lack of real Android announcements so far. The most significant announcement came from HTC earlier this year at Mobile World Congress, where it unwrapped the Magic, the world's second Android handset.

Some companies, such as Motorola, Samsung and Huawei, have payed some nice lip service to Android, but there's no hardware to be seen.

According to Schmidt, it is on the way. Speaking to investors, he said that, "Overall, it looks like Android is going to have a very strong year." He didn't get into specifics, but that's a comforting statement coming from the owner of the platform. He went on to say that the number of Android-related announcements this year (including new partnerships and hardware) will be "quite significant."

HTC's Magic is set to launch on Vodafone's network later this year, and a variant of the Magic with U.S. 3G on board has already passed muster with the FCC. Hopefully HTC and T-Mobile will get around to officializing the Magic in the U.S. before long.

Motorola and Samsung are the two manufacturers that I have the highest hopes for. Samsung's CEO has said that multiple Android handsets are on the way.

One thing I think Android has lacked is a true spokesperson or champion. Google should be more vocal in backing up its dreamchild, but has left it to the Android community instead. Community and partnerships (I am thinking of the Open Handset Alliance here) are important, but so is a central point to focus on.

It is nice to hear Schmidt give Android some attention.

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