Several companies to demo Google's Android

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Google Inc expects a number of companies to demonstrate prototype devices using its much anticipated Android mobile operating system at the world's biggest wireless fair next week, a spokesman said on Friday.

But the Web search leader said the prototypes shown at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona are no "indication of the devices consumers will ultimately see."

"Some will be showing an early prototype device that we used in the past to test the platform. Others may simply have circuit boards," Google spokesman Barry Schnitt said, without referring to any specific companies.

British chip designer ARM is expected to show one of the Android prototypes, a source close to the company told Reuters on Thursday.

Google plans to deploy the open source mobile phone system commercially in phones and services in the second half of 2008.

Deutsche Telekom's T-Mobile and Taiwan's High Tech Computer have said they plan to sell phones based on Android this year.

Other companies involved in an alliance supporting the operating system include handset maker Motorola Inc and wireless chip company Texas Instruments Inc.

(Reporting by Sinead Carew; Editing by Gary Hill)