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And the phone wars will continue.  According to Andy Rubin, senior director for Mobile Platforms for Google (as well as being the head honcho for the Android OS), there will be a minimum of 18 and perhaps as many as 20 Android-based phones out by years’ end.  He just disclosed the fact at a developers conference in San Francisco.

Obviously, these are not all going to be made by just one manufacturer, although Rubin would not say which companies will be making the phones, or for which wireless carriers.  It was released that so far there will be 8 or 9 manufacturers.  This number also doesn’t include any manufacturers which may be using a basic Android OS and haven’t informed Google of its use. 

We can expect that the US will be slower than Europe to introduce the phones, given that the market here is so competitive and the the manufacturers want to make something that really sets them apart from all the others.  Right now, there are two well known “Android-centric” phones out there.  We’ve got the G1 from T-Mobile here in the States, and the HTC Magic in Europe.

Android is going to be fighting to be the big cheese on the phone block regarding operating systems.  In the ring already is Apple’s iPhone, the new Palm OS called WebOS, Microsoft’s Windows Mobile, Symbian, and some other Linux-based systems.

The big thing for lots of people anymore is applications.  Google maintains that Android is an “open” platform, though there are actually three “types” of Android to be had.  And depending on which version is used, it can change things regarding applications.

So what options are there?  The first is the obligation-free option.  With this one, a free version of Android can be downloaded and used by a manufacturer.  It can be put on their device with access to whatever apps they like.  But, they can’t preload Google’s applications like Gmail.

Next up is the small strings option.  You have everything in Option One, but manufacturers also sign an agreement to get the Google applications on the phone.  According to Rubin, 12 to 14 of the phones coming out this year have this option.

Option three is the no-censorship version of Android.  Google calls them “The Google Experience.”  They’ve got the logo on the phone, the Google apps which both the carrier and maker agree not to remove, and non-censored access to the Android market (which the carrier and maker also have to agree to).  What this means is that if someone comes up with an app that maybe is considered to some in the market to be in poor taste, it still is available to users. Apparently 5 to 6 of the phone makers went this route.

The last option can obviously have some draw to consumers, especially against Apple right now and their “who decides apps” fiasco….but wow…could it have some cons too.  Let’s think back to the infamous “Baby Shaker” app.  Does Google really want to get things like that one that stuck by their name?  And, if it’s anything goes with apps it could lead to some rather poorly developed applications that have to be made available anyway.  According to Rubin regarding applications, “We want to abide by the law, but not rule with an open fist.”

18 to 20 new phones, with some having an app free for all?  Let the games begin.

via: nytimes