Samsung Injects Steroids Into Android Dev Team

Samsung will release its version of the Google phone in the second quarter of 09′. The company is interested in testing out different open source platforms over the next few years and first on its list is Android.
Samsung is currently in the development process of its new Google phone. To speed up the process, they have hired 30 additional Linux and Java experts to customize the Android platform in order to function well with the sleek touch screen. The team now contains 80 members.
This will be a big test for Google. As Symbian prepares to roll out their latest open source platform, users heavily adopting the latest Samsung/Android offering may enable Google to get its foot in the door. Although sales have been strong with HTC’s G1, it still was not enough to win the support of companies like AT&T.
The phone will be available through Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile USA in North America. Sprint is a surprising addition considering their CEO Dan Hesse recently said that the Android platform is not ready yet.