Late 2009 Until Samsung, LG Android Phones? Eh.

We already know that a bunch of manufacturers are working on Android handsets: Samsung, LG and Motorola for sure and we know that Sony Ericsson is at least testing the platform. All along we hoped Android would launch with a bang, dropping a number of handsets on at least a couple of carriers right off the bat.

For now, we’ll have to settle for only the G1 on T-Mobile. Its an awesome phone and T-Mobile is great and all, but the promise of Android is that it transcends carriers and manufacturers and how long “for now” actually is has come into question.

According to an article on Telecoms Korea (article seems to be down) a company named Mirae Assets Securities was reviewing the shortcomings of the T-Mobile G1 and mentioned that Samsung and LG handsets with Android would appear “in the second half of 2009 at the earliest.”

That’s a long ways away and to be honest – I doubt it’s true. Afterall, remember all the “experts” and “analytsts” who claimed that Android was delayed until early 2009? Yeah, well… no. The proliferation of handsets on more carriers is a key component of Android’s success. Its the APPS that will make Android stronger but without volume and cross carrier/manufacturer choice, the application market will be muffled.

Developers want to develop for platforms that have REACH and while the G1 looks like a winner, nobody is crazy enough to think that the G1 can sustain the success and forward movement of Android for another full year. Samsung, LG, Motorola, Sony Ericsson… mark us down as saying SOMEONE is going to put out a handset before “late 2009” and I would bank that at least Samsung or LG will have done so.

If not, look for HTC to capitalize their growth and recent success and pump out more Android Phones. Nobody at Google and/or the Open Handset Alliance is foolish enough to allow the G1 to be the only Android Phone almost a year after launch. I just… don’t believe it.

I don’t know much about Mirae Asset Securities but in summarizing, here are my thoughts on this information they’ve enlightened us with:

• They are probably wrong
• If they are right, look for Motorola to fill the void before “late 2009”
• If Motorola is MIA, look for HTC to increase its stake in Android by releasing a couple more Android enabled handsets in the next 6-9 months.

Its amazing how much press someone can get by hitting the panic button.

[Via UnwiredView]