By Charles Kane (Monday, 22nd December 2008)

Samsung is preparing to launch a new smartphone based on Google's Android operating system.

The product could be on the market during the first quarter of 2009, making it only the second phone released to feature Android technology.

Sources have revealed that the phone will be available with both GSM/3G and CDMA options and will be sold through T-Mobile.

T-Mobile is beginning to corner the Google phone market, having been first carrier to offer the Android-based G1 phone from HTC.

Korea IT News said that Samsung has added 30 experts in Linux and Java to the task force team of its information and communications division, according to CNet News.

It is believed that the handset will be similar to the Omnia and Instinct smartphones and feature a full touchscreen.

An official at Samsung said: "We are accelerating the development process for Google phone in order to meet the specific need of local carriers. We will be able to release Google phone in the second quarter of the next year in the US market."

Currently HTC is the only firm to sell an Android-based phone, but Australian firm Kogan Technologies has claimed that it has a model for the market, which could be available in January 2009.

The Omnia is one of the latest phones to be released by Samsung.

It features HSDPA connections of up to 7.2Mbps and features a five-megapixel camera with an LED flash and VGA video call capabilities.

Users can also make use of Wi-Fi, a GPS receiver, FM radio and mircoSD expansion slot, which enables the memory to be upgraded to between 8GB and 16GB.

Source: http://www.mobile-phones.co.uk/news/mobile-phones/samsung-prepare-to-launch-new-google-phone_18941571.html

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