After years of a strong commitment to making Windows Mobile smartphones, HTC is clearly intent on broadening its product line with multiple models running the Linux-based operating system Android, which is being put together by a collection of companies led by Google.

HTC's CEO Peter Chou told a group of analysts last week that his company plans to release two or three smartphones running Android next year. And Jason Mackenzie, HTC America?s VP, said, "We will be the first manufacturer to launch a product built on the Android platform" in an interview with BGR. According to an unconfirmed report from someone who has seen a prototype, this first smartphone will be 3 inches wide, 5 inches long, and not very thick. It will have a touchscreen that swivels to one side to expose a landscape-oriented keyboard. More About Android Android is being put together by the Open Handset Alliance, a collection of 30+ companies, including Intel, TI, Sprint, T-Mobile, HTC, Motorola, Samsung, and Wind River. This group is putting the finishing touches on this platform, which will consist of a Linux-based operating system, middleware, and key mobile applications. Many of these are likely to tie into Google's services, like Gmail and Google Maps. Because this platform will be open source, the Alliance hopes it will be quickly extended to incorporate new technologies as they emerge. In addition, it will be open to third-parties to create applications using Java.