T-Mobile USA Prepping Three Android Phones for 2009

A roadmap has leaked out of T-Mobile USA showing this carrier's plans to release three new models running Google's Android operating system. These will have a variety of form factors.

The first of these is no surprise, as there have been earlier rumors indicating that T-Mobile is going to introduce a version of the HTC Sapphire. This device recently debuted in Europe as the HTC Magic, and the U.S. version will supposedly be called the myTouch 3G.

The Sapphire has a tablet shape with an HVGA Touchscreen and a trackball on its front.  It will depend on its on-screen keyboard for text input, as there will be no hardware one.

According to this unconfirmed report, this model will debut this summer for $180. At this same time, this carrier's current Android-based device, the T-Mobile G1, will drop to $150,

Bigfoot Sighting
The second Android model waiting on-deck is code-named Bigfoot, and will be the replacement for the G1.

Details on this device are very sketchy, but it will definitely have a landscape-oriented sliding keyboard like its predecessor (see leaked image at right).

The launch has been scheduled for this fall, but pricing for this model is not yet known.

And for Our Next Trick...
The third Android device heading to T-Mobile USA this year is being designed by Samsung and will supposedly be code-named the Houdini.

The very small image included in the leaked product roadmap shows this could be a version of the recently-announced Samsung I7500, this company's first phone running Google's operating system. This has a tablet shape with a 3.2-inch, HVGA OLED touchscreen, mobile broadband, and Wi-Fi.

Like the Bigfoot, the Houdini will be released this fall for an as-yet-undisclosed price.

More about Android
Android a consumer-oriented operating system that was developed primarily by Google. It has a highly-functional web browser, and includes tie-ins to a number of this company's online services, like Gmail and Google Maps. 

There is also a rapidly growing collection of third-party software available.

Source: TmoToday and Android Community