There's talk that HTC, the maker of the T-Mobile G1, the first phone based on software developed by a consortium of companies lead by Google, is at it again: The company is within months of releasing a new version of its first device.
The G2 would, supposedly, will be much more iPhonish in its looks: It will feature a full-touch screen and have no Qwerty keyboard. What many Google fans hope for is that the new device will also offer better battery life than the G1, which runs out of juice fast. T-Mobile wouldn't comment on these speculations.
To become available in the first half of 2009, the phone may be sold through T-Mobile as well as other carriers (whereas the G1 is exclusive to T-Mobile). That's about the time when Samsung's new phone, also based on the Google software, called Android, should hit the market. Motorola plans to roll out its Android device in the second half of 2009. All of these companies may show off their new handsets at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show in January. Clearly, Android is gaining traction.
Kharif is a senior writer for BusinessWeek.com in Portland, Ore.
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