Engineers from Google and High Tech Computer spent three years developing Android software and handsets before the launch of the G1 by T-Mobile on Tuesday, an executive from HTC said. (See a slideshow of T-Mobile's G1.)

Executives from both companies started talking about a collaboration as long as five years ago, but those discussions didn't turn into anything substantial until later, said John Wang, chief marketing officer of HTC, in an interview early Wednesday in Taipei.

"Google makes software. They needed a hardware partner," he said. HTC engineers remain at work in Google offices today.

The companies showed off the results of their work on Tuesday in New York City, with top executives from Google, HTC and T-Mobile present.

The G1 handset, with a touchscreen dominating most of its face, will first be available in the United States on Oct. 22 for $179 with a two-year voice and data service contract.

The key to the new handset is the Android software, an open source OS and loads of applications that are already available. The mobile phones and software are designed to work with a lot of current Google services, including Google Maps and Google Maps Street View, as well as YouTube. (See a slideshow of the 10 coolest apps on the phone.)

HTC believes working with Google on the Android project gives it a big advantage over other mobile phone makers.

Handset builders Motorola, Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are all currently listed as members of the Open Handset Alliance, the group of corporate supporters Google formed around Android. The companies are believed to be at work designing Android-based handsets but none of them have announced anything yet.

HTC plans to make more of the handsets.

"This will not be our last Android phone," said Wang. "This is just the beginning."

He declined to comment specifically on whether new Android-based handsets were already in the works from HTC.

The IDG News Service is a Network World affiliate.