Deutsche Telekom's T-Mobile USA unit will start selling a mobile phone that uses Google's Android software within weeks, said two people with firsthand knowledge of the plan.

The two companies plan to present details of the release Sept. 23 in New York, said the people, who declined to be identified as preparations are confidential. The handset will be a smartphone, which allows users to surf the Web more quickly, check e-mails, send and view videos and download music and maps.

T-Mobile would be the first wireless carrier to market a handset that uses the Android operating system, which will compete with systems offered by Microsoft, Apple and Research In Motion. Android, based on the Linux operating system, is free code that allows programmers to develop applications for mobile devices.

"We've always said we'll present an Android-based cell phone this year," said Alexander von Schmettow, a spokesman for T- Mobile in Bonn, Germany. He declined to provide details.

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For Google, the owner of the world's most popular search engine, Android will offer another method to deliver advertising. Search advertising on phones may jump to $3.8 billion by 2012 from $243.7 million this year, according to New York-based research firm EMarketer.

T-Mobile Chief Executive Hamid Akhavan said in February that the unit will start selling a phone using Android in the fourth quarter.