Phone manufacturer Samsung is "planning internally" to launch the Google Android phone in the second half of 2009, but not in time for the Mobile World Congress as rumours suggested, PC World reported Thursday.

Other manufacturers Sony Ericsson, Motorola, Asus, Toshiba and LG also intend to launch Google's Android system sometime in 2009. G2, T-Mobile's second Android-powered model, produced by Taiwanese portable device manufacturer HTC (High Tech Computer Corporation), is scheduled to enter the market by May.

"The market for entry-level phones is still booming in emerging markets but in more mature markets the middle ground has all but disappeared - consumers are either keeping their existing handsets and trading down to cheaper sim-only deals, or demanding the latest in must-have top of the range gadgetry, including touchscreens," The Guardian reported Thursday.