The rise of the Android continues, as Sony Ericsson and Nokia are both preparing Android-powered mobile phones. Pictures and details have leaked of a Sony Ericsson handset named Rachel, while The Guardian reports Nokia is planning to unveil a handset at the Nokia World conference in September.
The Sony Ericsson handset is codenamed Rachel, so expect legions of copycat haircuts on other phones. Or maybe it's named after Rachael, the robotic love interest in Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? and Blade Runner. Android, get it?
Rachel is built on Qualcomm Snapdragon QSD8250 platform, with a processor speed of up to 1GHz. If you want to stroke Rachel you're in luck, as it's reported to sport a giant 102mm (4-inch) touchscreen. It also includes an 8-megapixel camera complete with autofocus. More good news: there's a 3.5mm headphone connector as well as the mini-USB port.
HTC is currently top droid with three phones, including the forthcoming Hero, wizardly Magic and the original G1. Other manufacturers appear to have been on a break from the Google operating system, but that's set to change with the new phones from Son Eric, and possibly Nokia. Nokia has denied the rumour -- after all the company has only recently launched its own app platform, the Ovi store. Meanwhile, Dell is rumoured to be developing an Android-based iPod touch-killer.
If all this floats your robot, check out our favourite Android apps and games.
Update: Nokia has issued what it calls an "outright denial", reiterating to CNET UK's sister site ZDNet UK that Symbian is its smart phone "platform of choice".
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