HTC to launch 'at least' three Android phones this year

There might not have been much Google Android news at Mobile World Congress last month, but a snippet of gossip from HTC gives us some hope for the CTIA show in a couple of weeks' time. According to HTC chief executive Peter Chou, the smartphone maker plans to release at least three Android devices in 2009.

Keep in mind, this number includes the HTC Magic, which was announced at MWC, so we're looking at a minimum of two more. HTC also makes the only Android phone you can buy at present, the T-Mobile G1.

This information came to light, according to PCWorld, at the Merrill Lynch technology conference in Taipei, Taiwan, when a reporter asked Chou if there was any truth to the rumour that HTC would ship five Android phones this year. Although he answered that the manufacturer would release "at least" three, he declined to comment any further.

With Samsung, Garmin, Sony Ericsson and several other companies also working on Android devices for 2009, it looks like we're in for a busy and exciting second half of the year.