Dell Android netbook plans confirmed

Google has big plans for Android in 2009. The open source OS got a slow start and had its share of bugs and issues when it first launched, but the operating system is picking up steam with more smartphones being announced running Android.

Android is also expected to venture away from the smartphone market it was originally intended for. Several top computer makers are eyeing the Android OS for use in netbooks. HP has said before that it is considering using Android for some of its netbooks, but is fast to say no decision has been made at this time.

While no official statement has been made form Dell, apparently the Texas-based computer maker is well ahead of HP in the roll out of Android notebooks according to a new press release from a company called Bsquare.

According to Bsquare, it will be porting Flash Lite 3.17 technology onto Dell netbooks running Android. Considering this is the first time Dell netbooks running Android have been talked about, Dell won’t be happy that Bsquare let the cat out of the bag.

Bsquare CEO Brian Crowley said in a statement, "Integrating Adobe Flash technology with the functionality of Google's Android platform on the full range of Netbook devices will allow our OEM customers to meet the high expectations their customers have of this new industry segment. As the Netbook and Nettop market segments expand, our Adobe Flash Lite port to Android is just one of the software products we will offer our OEM and ODM customers."

I'm guessing HP won’t be telling Bsquare about its plans for Android netbooks.