Android on HTC phones?

[aurori]

Do you guys think we'll be able to put Google's Android on our phones once it comes out? I have an s620 and will definitely switch to Android if I can.

[cyp2k]

i am hoping for the same thing as i have a htc s710 and will want to try it out if it will be able to port to it

[Bittermormon]

I wouldn't hold your breath on that. My guess is HTC wants to sell NEW phones. I would also venture that smartphones are made for a certain OS and that OS only. Otherwise I'd have symbian on my dash

[turley]

Do you guys think we'll be able to put Google's Android on our phones once it comes out? I have an s620 and will definitely switch to Android if I can.

With the introduction of the Android SDK today, this is becoming serious...

Here's the deal: at the bottom of the Andriod software stack is Linux. For many reasons the question "Can my phone run Andriod?" is really "Can my phone run Linux?" We know the answer to that question: for many smart phone architectures the answer is YES! Most HTC phones coming out right now are based on the Qualcomm MSM7200/7500 chip set. Those chips utilize ARM processors, and there have been Linux distributions available for the ARM architecture for quite some time. My guess is that HTC is working with one right now for a future mobile device running Andriod. The beauty of Linux, and now the SDK, is that it's not really that hard.

As for retrofitting existing phones, if the Andriod concept really catches on, there will be plenty of information here and elsewhere on how to do it. And you know, in the end, HTC would love it. After all, HTC is a hardware company that has to buy their OS. They're not going to complain to hard if all of a sudden the OS and matching applications are free.

[NerdyGuy]

Well, from what I have seen in the android video (correct me if I'm wrong) the HTC S640 should be able to support android. I think HTC will allow old phones to be retrofitted with Android after its release.

At least this is what I am hoping will happen.

[turley]

Well, from what I have seen in the android video (correct me if I'm wrong) the HTC S640 should be able to support android. I think HTC will allow old phones to be retrofitted with Android after its release.

At least this is what I am hoping will happen.

I don't think you're wrong. But keep in mind, and I'd certainly would welcome more input on this point, that Android is a replacement for Windows Mobile, not an add-on. While I believe installing Android on an unlocked HTC GSM mobile phone will be very possible for those owners that wish to do so, installing Android on a carrier-locked device is questionable, especially if the carrier doesn't already offer a version of Android already.