Android This Week: Verizon Calls on Android; Donut Debuts for Developers

gigaom_icon_google-android1The Android train keeps slowly picking up steam, and Verizon could be getting onboard soon, if rumors are to be believed. While T-Mobile is the primary Android carrier in the U.S., industry observers have been speculating for some time that Verizon would pick up at least one Android-based handset for its network. A rumor popped up this week that “Big Red” is set to release an Android phone in just a few weeks.  The mystery phone is supposedly from Motorola, which just recently launched its own first Android smartphone.

Also this week, Google officially released Donut, the next version of Android, to developers. Donut adds new features like a Quick Search box to the interface, along with better control of the integrated camera. It also offers CDMA support, making it fully compatible with Sprint and Verizon’s U.S. voice and data networks. The debut likely indicates that a full consumer release is not too far off in the future, given the Android team’s track record.

Plus, the first Internet tablet running Android was launched in Paris to mixed reviews. The ARCHOS 5 Internet Tablet is built on Android and sports a 5-inch touchscreen. The name implies that the device should be superior at browsing the web, but the first folks to play with it found the experience a bit wanting.

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