Asus Android handset to launch this year

Ben Woods

Asus's first Android handset is reportedly due to be announced before the end of the year

Published on Oct 20, 2009

An Asus official has let slip that its planned Android-powered handset is due for official announcement this year.

The news surfaced over at DigiTimes and was the product of a meeting between company Chairman Jonny Shih and CEO Jerry Shen.

Aside from indicating that the handset is due before 2010, neither Shih nor Shen gave up any actual specifics - meaning that we still don't know what it will look like or any of the specs. If we had to guess then we think that it will be a fairly high-end device considering Asus's desire to make a splash in the Android market.

Also mentioned during the meeting was Asus's intention to “invest in green energy businesses such as solar.” This wasn't mentioned specifically in relation to its mobile business, so don't go getting your hopes up for an Asus Android Solar edition anytime soon; Shih says that Asus is still at the stage of “evaluating the industry” with no specific timetable in mind.