Google to Push Android Software in India and China

Google (GOOG) is planning to expand sales of Android mobile software in China and India as it seeks to step up competition with Apple and Nokia, Bloomberg BusinessWeek reported.

Google is aiming to puts its Android operating system on cheaper phones made by Huawei Technologies and LG Electronics in parts of Asia and Europe, according to the magazine. Google also hope to make it easier sell products on mobile devices in the hope of attracting programmers to the Android system.

"The down-market opportunity is about to happen," Andy Rubin, vice president of engineering at Google, told Bloomberg BusinessWeek. "It's actually quite a revolution."

Google wants to increase the use of its software in handheld devices as a way to sell more advertising. Android users currently have about 65,000 apps available, compared with over 200,000 Apple programs, the magazine says.