Samsung will release its first Android-based smartphone in the second quarter of 2009, according to a report by Korea’s ETNews. The company is a founding member of the Open Handset Alliance, so the fact that they are preparing an Android handset is not much of a surprise. It is worth noting however that the device could be released in the U.S. via not one, but two major carriers, Sprint and T-Mobile.


While specific features aren’t mentioned, industry insiders say the touch screen device will be an adaptation of the Omnia and Instinct (pictured above), which means we can probably expect an iPhone rival with minimal hardware buttons and no hardware QWERTY keyboard. The article also quotes an unnamed spokesperson for the company saying that Samsung accelerated development for the phone to meet carrier demands.