Speculation is mounting that Huawei could launch a mobile device based on Google’s Android platform at next month’s GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The Chinese-based firm, better known for its mobile broadband USB sticks than handsets, hinted on its website earlier this week that an Android device would be among its new products being showcased, though the specific reference to an Android product has now been removed. Last year, Huawei said it will launch smartphones based on the Android platform sometime in 2009. Meanwhile, in a preview of the show published this week, analyst firm CCS Insight predicted that Huawei will unveil an Android device in Barcelona. The analyst firm expects some 20 Android-based handsets to be announced in 2009, from such brand names as HTC, Huawei, LG, Samsung and Toshiba, as well as possibly from several original design manufacturers, including Asustek, Inventec, Techfaith and Pantech.

Taiwan’s HTC is the only vendor to date to have commercially launched an Android-based device, the T-Mobile G1. A new version of the device – dubbed the G2 – is reportedly lined up for launch this quarter and is also tipped to be announced in Barcelona. Samsung, the world’s second-largest handset vendor, has also confirmed it will launch its first device based on the platform this year. Other handset vendors in the Open Handset Alliance, a consortium supporting the Android platform, include Motorola and Sony Ericsson.