With Mobile World Congress just around the corner–be sure to tune into pocketnow.com to keep abreast of all the news–it seems that Android is not getting much love. Whether this is because companies are being more cautious in what they are investing due to a tough economic climate or if there is lack of optimism in general remains to be evaluated. However, with major names supporting Android’s platform in theory–Motorola, Samsung, and others–there really hasn’t been anything new in terms of hardware since the T-Mobile G1. Click on to read more…

The next promising handset after the G1 would be the Kogan handset with a different form factor that would make Android better compete with the likes of the Treo Pro, BlackBerry, and Samsung Epix with a candybar QWERTY design. However, the design wasn’t feasible for Android and Kogan has since promised another revision that will be more Android-compatible and functional. Apparently, rumors on the net has it that for whatever reasons, applications may not run properly–perhaps its the screen?

Then there were rumors that Motorola would be kissing goodbye to longtime partner Microsoft and shift way into Android, but the firm has since denied those rumors. According to Motorola, they are still committed to Windows Mobile development, and we still haven’t heard of an Android-powered Hello Moto ringtone just quite yet.

Of course, the largest Korean manufacturer Samsung has gone on record saying that it will release Android handsets, but not a word on a release or product yet. Instead, at MWC, we’ll probably see Samsung invest more into the Symbian S60 platform, dominated by Nokia, and Windows Mobile. Its latest beast, the Acme i8910, will probably be a multimedia powerhouse with an extremely capable camera and sport S60. Samsung is also a strong Windows Mobile licensee with the success of the Epix, Omnia, and Saga.

Add to that list the Chinese knockoff HKC, which seems to borrow bits and pieces from HTC. Although the handset supports Android, it doesn’t sell just Android. Rather, HKC is promoting it as a “dual-boot” phone, with the capability to boot into Windows Mobile or Android. Looks like Android needs the help of a certain player in Redmond to move those handsets.

The only love that Android is getting from manufacturers seem to be coming from HTC, which is part of the triad that is the G1 together with T-Mobile and Google. HTC, as you are familiar, is the leading Windows Mobile manufacturer and has recently revived the platform with innovative designs starting with the Touch Diamond–which we had given away in a contest–and TouchFLO 3D. According to reports, HTC claims that Android is eating into Windows Mobile sales, but we really don’t know how true that is as the smartphone pie is getting larger and is more than capable of supporting another entry into that market.

So with all the hype and buzz behind Android and its maker Google, is it really a threat? Windows Mobile did well last year, outselling the iPhone despite earlier concerns and delivering over 20 million handsets–to hopefully happy customers. Despite the platform being a bit long in the tooth and in need of some serious overhauls coming in Windows Mobile 6.5 and 7, Windows Mobile still delivers. Unless something serious is coming from the Do No Evil company, perhaps Google will be best served if it abandoned Android and develop compelling mobile applications for mainstay platforms like Windows Mobile. Can Android really compete with the big dogs in a dog-eat-dog world for smartphone dominance?