Chinese microblog Sina Weibo reportedly planning its own Android device

Sina, the company behind Chinese microblogging service Sina Weibo, is rumoured to be launching an Android-based device that ties into its weibo service this year, according to local media reports translated and cited by Beijing-based Marbridge Consulting.

Sina is reported to have already established a team of 10 that is dedicated to developing the device entirely separately of its weibo department, and a prototype design is said to have already been put forward.

The project is now rumoured to be awaiting the approval of the board, having submitted a budget and plan in addition to the prototype design. If it gets the green light, the team will expand to cover “hundreds of people” in order to get the device released this year.

Like the Salsa and Status devices, that feature a dedicated Facebook button, HTC has already released a China-only Sina Weibo-phone of sorts — the Weike, known as the C510e — but that isn’t enough for Sina. In the same way that Facebook is developing a device with greater customisation towards the social network — codenamed Buffy — Sina is following suit with plans of its own.

The prototype is said to be a customised version of Android that gives one-click access to Sina Weibo and a range of other supported applications and services. They could well tie in to Sina other features, that include games, group chat and a standalone video services, amongst others.