Google’s Android mobile operating system could be running on 18 to 20 devices by the end of 2009, according to Andy Rubin, Google’s senior director for mobile platforms. The Android OS is also expected to be on netbooks, soon, reports E-Week.

Speaking at the Google I/O Developer Conference in San Francisco, Rubin said eight or nine manufacturers will be involved in the creation of the Android-equipped phones. HTC is currently preparing Google Android smartphones for the Chinese and Canadian markets for a June rollout.

Motorola has changed Operating Systems mid-stream. Originally slated to run Windows Mobile, a Motorola Android phone will be released by the third quarter this year.

Android will continue to be open-source. Manufacturers have the option of installing Android “obligation-free” onto their devices or sign a distribution agreement with Google will allow them to pre-install Google Apps onto their devices. A third option, called the “Google Experience,” opens up the manufacturer’s devices to Google Apps and the Android Market.

ARM-based devices — both Netbooks and handhelds — lack a Windows operating system and can’t run PC applications. Freescale and others are looking to Google’s Android OS to counter the marquee draw that Windows has for Netbooks.

Strategy Analytics forecast global Android smartphone shipments to grow 900 percent annually during 2009. Analysts have previously suggested that Android, which originally rolled out in August 2008, will be running on about 12 percent of global smartphones by 2012.