Motorola Reportedly Showing a Strong Interest in Android

By now, most people should know that the first company releasing a smartphone running Google's Android operating system is HTC. But there are other phone makers in Google's Open Handset Alliance, and one of these, Motorola, is supposedly putting a great deal of effort into Android.

AndroidAccording to an unconfirmed report, Motorola currently has 50 people working in its Android team, and is actively hiring more to bring that number up to 350.

Whether this report is true or not, there can be no doubt that Motorola is interested in Android. It has been a member of the OHA since the day it was first announced.

When it is going to introduce a model with this new operating system is not yet known, however.

HTC Is Firmly On Board

HTC is behind the T-Mobile G1, the first Android-based device, but this company is best known for its Windows Mobile smartphones. John Wang, HTC's CMO, said his company thinks the two operating systems are complimentary, and will continue to use both in its products.

Wang told DigiTimes that Windows Mobile offers high performance and a large number of third-party software titles, while Android gives hardware and software developers more flexibility.

HTC has committed to releasing multiple Android-based models in short order.

What about Samsung and LG?

Two of the other handset makers in the OHA --Samsung and LG -- may be taking a "wait and see" approach.

Mirae Asset Securities, a market analyst firm based in Korea, says that these companies won't be coming out with Android-based devices before the second half of next year.