While the Android operating system has been getting lots of buzz, until now sales have been limited. According to market research firm Canalys, Android had 2.8% market share in the worldwide smartphone market with about 1.1 million phones sold during the second quarter of 2009. This is however soon to change thanks to Motorola and LG who announced two new Android phones in the most recent days.

Motorola, who is betting high on Android and is expected to launch a full portfolio boasting the Google operating system, started its line-up with CLIQ/DEXT, a smartphone that features Motoblur, a software aggregating in one place messages, social networks updates and news feeds. DEXT will be available exclusively launching with Orange in the United Kingdom and France, Telefonica in Spain and America Movil in Latin America. Known as CLIQ in North America, the device will be available exclusively with T-Mobile USA.

Earlier this week LG unveiled the LG-GW620, another Android phone which features a 3-inch full touchscreen and slide out QWERTY keypad. The LG-GW620 will be available in the fourth quarter of this year in select European markets. “The LG-GW620 will appeal to first-time smartphone customers by offering a new and different kind of user experience,” said Dr. Skott Ahn, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company.

Unlike Motorola, LG won’t focus on Android alone and will continue to churn out phones running Windows Mobile, explained the company. LG expect to launch 13 new smartphones that run Windows Mobile over the next 16 months. “This Android phone is just one of many smartphone models we plan to introduce worldwide in the years ahead,” stated Dr. Ahn.

With these Android phones LG and Motorola join HTC, Samsung , Huawei and Dell in the list of Android phone makers. Most – if not all of them – will feature GPS location which is going to make a suitable market for location-based software developers.