T-Mobile creating devices using Google Android

Jacksonville – T-Mobile, the country’s fourth largest wireless carrier, has plans to develop new devices that make use of Google’s Android operating system.

Android, an open-source operating system, currently has a very small footprint in the smart-phone or computing environment, but seems poised to be a driving factor in future development.

The New York Times broke the report on T-Mobile’s plans, citing confidential documents procured through a business partner of the wireless carrier. T-Mobile will not make any direct statements regarding its future development plans but does acknowledge that several Android-based products are in the pipeline.

The company markets the only existing product using Android, its G1 smart-phone.

According to the documents obtained by the Times, two of the new products will be a tablet computer and a home phone slated to be available in 2010. The report goes on to describe a tablet computer with a touchscreen and no keyboard, and a home phone that includes a docking station and the ability to receive data while charging its batteries.

Android is Google’s attempt to compete in the smart-phone operating system arena with Apple’s iPhone and Symbian’s OS. In addition to T-Mobile’s interest, other companies, most notably Hewlett-Packard, are keeping a close watch on Android’s development for potential use in their own products.

Technology enablers are developing products that bring more computer-like functionality to the mobile phone market.

Google would like Android to be a major player in this emerging market, and T-Mobile’s plans may pave the way for its success.