18 Android phones might come this year, says Google

With plethora of leaks and confirmations coming in, its evident that this year belongs to Android. Now, at the Google I/O conference, Android’s Andy Rubin has chimed in by saying that they expect around 18 Android phones to be launched this year. He did not reveal the manufacturers but we do have a fair amount of idea about who is going to jump in the Android bandwagon.

Though Android is free for commercial use, manufacturers will be able to get phones on three different levels based on Google’s involvement.

– No Strings version will not have any Google apps installed and the operator or the manufacturer can bundle the apps on its own will.
– Small Strings will have a distribution agreement to bundle few Google apps along with the phone. Most of the phones will come under this option.
– Lastly the Big Strings option is to provide a complete Google Experience by loading almost every Google app, pretty much like the G1 (Dream).

Let’s hope at least a few reaches the Indian shores.

[Via Gizmodo]

• Google announces Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, releasing in July
• Google makes Honeycomb 3.1 official, releasing today for Verizon Xoom customers
• Google announces cloud-based Music service for Android
• Next version of Android Ice Cream Sandwich announced, releasing Q4 2011