Aussie telcos can't talk Android

update Australia's top four mobile carriers were unable today to say whether they had plans to locally sell phone handsets based on Google's Android operating system.

(Credit: CNET News)

Spokespeople from Telstra, Optus, Vodafone and 3 today initially told ZDNet.com.au and CNET.com.au they were unaware of any Android plans, and would have to research the matter further internally.

"We think that Android is an excellent platform and a number of mobile phone manufacturers will develop phones based on it," said Doug Maloney, general manager, products and services at 3 later. "We'll be keeping a close eye on it, but we don't have any information on when these phones will reach Australia."

Optus' general manager of content and portals, Mark Mulder, did not directly answer the Android question. He said the telco had seen iPhone users embrace content and data, and was excited about the potential of Android to increase the trend. Optus had a strong relationship with Google and would continue to work with the search giant, the executive said.

"Telstra will consider how an Android phone might fit into our range, as we would any new phone in the marketplace," said Telstra spokesperson Peter Taylor.

The news comes as United States carrier T-Mobile is on the verge of launching the world's first Android-based handset in the US; the HTC-manufacturered device, dubbed the Dream or the G1, is slated to cost about $US200 and is likely to go on sale in October.

Australian representatives from Taiwan-based HTC this week declined to comment on any Android plans in Australia.