Pocket PC Thoughts: HTC Dreaming of Android

"The mobile phone High Tech Computer (HTC) has been developing to run on the Android software from Google will be called "Dream," and it will have a large touchscreen and full QWERTY keypad, a person close to the situation said Thursday...HTC's Google handset is just over 5 inches long and 3 inches wide, with a keypad underneath the screen that either slides out or swivels out. The aim of the keypad is for easy e-mail, note-taking, and writing Web addresses. Internet navigational controls are situated below the screen on the handset."

There were a few prototypes of Android on show at MWC, but they were at best described as proof of concept rather than anything approaching a production device - bare circuit boards and an LCD don't quite make the cut as a consumer must-have ;). HTC of course were one of the first companies to announce development of an Android device, and it looks like they're going to be first to market as well. At the dimensions mentioned, that would make something on the size of an O2 Flame, with very likely a 3.5"/3.7" screen, and the presence of the keyboard means this won't be fashionably thin. Taking all that together, this appears more like Intel's concept of a MID device, especially with the Linux kernel in the background. The plot thickens!