Lenovo Mobile is the latest vendor to be linked to the launch of an Android-based handset, though this time reports suggest the company is manufacturing a device for China Mobile – the world’s largest mobile operator by subscribers – that will run on TD-SCDMA technology. A PCWorld report links to pictures of the device, bearing the logo of China Mobile. However, Lenovo Mobile is not yet a member of the Open Handset Alliance, a consortium supporting Google’s Android open-source mobile operating platform.

Handset vendors that have so far publicly committed to producing Android-powered devices in 2009 include Huawei, Motorola, Sony Ericsson, Toshiba and HTC (which launched the first Android device, called the G1, in October). Reports earlier this month suggested small Australian electronics company Kogan Technologies is set to be the world’s second handset manufacturer to launch a mobile device based on Android; The Agora touchscreen handset will reportedly ship next year. A notable exception to the list of Android backers is Nokia, the world’s largest handset vendor, which is pushing the rival Symbian platform, following its buyout of the operating system provider this year. CCS Insight predicts that at least 20 Android phones will be announced in 2009 and five global network operators will declare support for the platform.