Impressed with Google's Android, AT&T Plans to Add Handsets to Lineup

At a media lunch earlier today, AT&T president and CEO, Ralph de la Vega, revealed the company's plans to collaborate with Google to develop handsets that will run on Google's open source platform, Android. Demonstrations of the Android OS and discussions with the Google team that developed it convinced de la Vega that Android handsets are a must-have.

"We're now looking to see when it's ready to be developed. Now I'm in the camp where I'm positive that it's something I'd want in our portfolio," said de la Vega of a potential Android handset. He is specifically impressed with the flexibility manufacturers and carriers have in customizing the the Android OS, which opens the door for AT&T to produce a branded cellphone that runs on the Android platform but has a unique appearance.

Google insists that it will keep Android handsets open to developers to add, edit or replace applications rather than limiting them to its own native suite of applications. In return, partners of the Open Handset Alliance have agreed, verbally at least, not to modify the OS to the point that applications written for it will not run on other Android devices.

Here is a video of de la Vega speaking at the luncheon:

[via Google Phone]

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