Web giant Google today unveiled software that will become the operating system for a variety of future mobile phone handsets.

The firm is working closely with four major phone makers; Samsung, Motorola, LG and HTC and the phones from these companies will be compatible with the software since Google does not produce phones.

Today's announcement is more ambitious than any single Google Phone that the press has been speculating about, Google Chief Executive Eric Schmidt said in a statement.

Our vision is that the powerful platform we're unveiling will power thousands of different phone models.

Google's director of mobile platforms, Andy Rubin also added that the platform is every piece of software you need to build a cell phone.

The software will help to make it easy to use the web on a phone and to target consumers with mobile adverts.

Peter Chou, chief executive of HTC, said in a statement that the new software will create a new category of connected mobile phone that will change the complexion of the mobile industry and re-create user expectations of the mobile phone experience.

The first phones using Google software stack will be available in the second half the year 2008.

Andy rubin Electronics Android Htc