Number two US mobile operator AT&T is gearing up to launch a bevy of smartphones this year, including Android devices from Motorola and HTC, according to reports this week. DigiTimes notes that AT&T will exclusively launch HTC’s third Android phone – dubbed ‘Lancaster’ – in the third quarter, whilst AndroidGuys claims the operator will also support Motorola’s high-profile launch of new Android devices by the end of this year. Struggling device vendor Motorola is focusing its efforts on the Google-backed operating system as it attempts to salvage its handset unit, with reports suggesting the vendor will launch its ‘Heron’ and ‘Sawgrass’ Android devices in the fourth quarter.

Meanwhile, Engadget Mobile reports that AT&T – currently the only US operator to offer the iPhone – will add other smartphones to its portfolio this year. Additional devices mooted for launch include new versions of the HTC Touch Diamond and Touch Pro, and Nokia’s new HSPA Mako (a S60-based device that includes a slide-out, full QWERTY keyboard). RIM is also rumoured to be set to launch a number of new devices via AT&T, including the ‘Onyx’ (an update to the BlackBerry 8900 Curve series), an HSDPA-supporting Pearl, the BlackBerry Gemini, and the next evolution of the BlackBerry Bold (called the BlackBerry ‘Magnum’).