Google To Launch New Handset 2H08

Taiwan's High Tech Computer Corp. (2498.TW) said Tuesday it is developing a new handset with Google Inc. (GOOG) for a planned launch in the second half of 2008.

The phone will run a newly developed open-standards software platform for mobile devices, called Android, the Taiwanese phone maker's Chief Executive Peter Chou said.

An alliance of 34 telecommunications and technology companies including Google and Taipei-based HTC developed the Android platform, said HTC in a statement. The platform includes an operating system, a user interface and applications for mobile phones.