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Jun. 5, 2009

Google has confirmed late yesterday that it is planning to release version 2.0 of its open source Android mobile operating system later this year.

No official date was offered, but some observers expect it could come out in October or November.

Others are saying it may not be ready until December or even January of 2010.

Whatever the outcome is, according to Andrew Rubin, Google's Director of Mobile Platforms, the time frame would allow at least some of the 18 to 20 Android smartphones expected to be released this year from eight or nine different manufacturers, to include the Android 2.0 OS.

But Rubin wouldn't say who those manufacturers are or where the phones would come on to the market.

In the mean time, the rumor mill is still active and we are hearing more and more speculation as to who these mobile handset makers might be...

Time will tell, of course.

The more obvious innovations in Android 2.0 include universal search, a text-to-speech API, handwriting input and the integration of Google Translate, which can translate text with a single click.

It isn't clear yet whether the handwriting input is gesture-based or whether Android will be able to recognize natural handwriting.

Google's new Android operating system has been code-named "Donut" for the time being.

Google is displaying a lot of enthusiasm and is trying hard to publicize its new Android mobile platform to the wireless community. So much so in fact that its first Android wireless handset will be available on September 23.

Google's new Android phone is a touch-screen unit with a jog ball and a QWERTY keyboard. Combined with an application market that makes it easy for mobile developers to distribute their software, will it be enough to create an iPhone-like similarity before its October official launch? Goggle sure hopes so...

It took Google two years to develop its first Android-powered phone. Click here to learn more.

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Source: Google.