FCC chairman supports Google's Open Handset Alliance
Federal Communications Chairman Kevin Martin on Tuesday threw his support behind Google's Open Handset Alliance.
On Monday, Google officially unveiled Android, its new mobile phone software. It also announced the Open Handset Alliance. Thirty-four companies have said they will join the alliance, which will work on developing applications on the Android platform. Members of the alliance include mobile handset makers HTC and Motorola, mobile operators T-Mobile and Sprint-Nextel, and chipmaker Qualcomm.
It should come as little surprise that Martin would support the alliance. Earlier this year, he made open devices a requirement in the rules for the upcoming 700MHz spectrum auction, which are expected to get under way in January 2008. Essentially, the rules will require winners of the spectrum in certain slivers of the 700MHz to be required to allow any device to connect to the network.
"As I noted when we adopted open network rules for our upcoming spectrum auction, I continue to believe that more openness, at the network, device, or application level, helps foster innovation and enhances consumers' freedom and choice in purchasing wireless service," he said a statement.
Google, which lobbied for open access rules for the 700MHz rules, is planning on bidding on some of the spectrum licenses. Even if it doesn't win any of these licenses, the new Android software could put Google in a prime position to be one of the main suppliers of software to handset makers that could help them comply with the FCC requirement.
Marguerite Reardon has been a CNET News reporter since 2004, covering cell phone services, broadband, citywide Wi-Fi, the Net neutrality debate, as well as the ongoing consolidation of the phone companies. E-mail Maggie. 
http://omnisoft.blogspot.com/2007/10/support-for-wireless-gadgets.html
This piece consists of excerpts from the N.Y. Times' articles pertaining to Google's Android software and my projection that Google has a long term business plan of implementing a virtual parallel universe. Please be informed that after most of the NY Times excerpts, I enclose in ( ) my comments relevant to Google's parallel universe business concept. I also inserted content from a Google patent that supports my prediction.
In my opinion Google?s open source Android software and the mobile phone is the foundation for the evolution of all facets of future lifestyles.
NY Times excerpts & comments:
Google.. announced on Monday that it was leading a broad industry effort to develop new software technologies aimed at turning cellphones into powerful mobile computers. (going with the trend... mobile phone & Internet access is a must. In addition, The World Information Society Report of May 16, 2007, exclaimed that mobile telephony holds the greatest potential to bridge the digital divide.)
And by giving outside software developers full access to a Google-powered phone?s functions, the alliance members hope for a proliferation of new PC-style programs and services, like social networking and video sharing. (the development of the facets that makes up the parallel universe dimension.)
"We?re human beings and we communicate, and that?s what the Internet social network phenomenon is all about," said Robert Pepper, a former policy chief at the Federal Communications Commission. (the Internet social network phenomenon shall develop into the virtual parallel universe dimension.)
The idea is that just as spreadsheets, word processors, video games and other software tools turned the personal computer into an everyday appliance, the emergence of new mobile applications can spur wider adoption of so-called smartphones. More use of the Web, whether on PCs or on phones, benefits Google because its advertising systems have such broad reach. (motive for Google to create a virtual parallel universe.)
Software developers "will build applications that do amazing things on the Internet and on mobile phones as well," Eric E. Schmidt, Google?s chief executive, said at a news conference. (reading in between the lines, Schmidt was telling us of the open source development of the virtual parallel universe)
The phone plan mirrors Google?s efforts to give away software and services for PCs and profit through customized advertising. (Google's revenue stream.)
Mr. Schmidt of Google has said in the past that advertising on mobile phones is likely to eventually bring the cost of making calls to zero. (which creates an unlimited market to advertise to.)
Google software suggests that phones made using the technology will have features and design similar to the iPhone. Andy Rubin, Google?s director of mobile platforms who led the effort to develop the software, recently demonstrated a hand-held touch-screen device that gave an immersed view of Google Earth, the company?s three-dimensional mapping program. (expect to see the three-dimensional mapping program develop into the virtual parallel universe scenarios/stage that the parallel universe citizen shall view and live in.)
As an example, Mr. Rubin said the Street View feature of Google Maps could easily be coupled with another service showing the current location of friends. (the operative word is location or a scenario/stage in the parallel universe.)
Part of Google?s strategy appears to be that the Android software will lead to new kinds of devices that have cellphone and wireless Internet functions, but have shapes and sizes different from today?s cellphones and PCs. (real life experiences occurring in the virtual parallel universe.)
Intel, an alliance member,... Mr. Schmidt hinted broadly at this when he answered a question on Monday... "It?s important to realize there will be many mobile experiences," he said. (you can't put a number on life living experiences.)
an alliance of companies led by Google plans to begin introducing a common set of standards to allow software developers to write programs for Google?s social network, Orkut, as well as others, including LinkedIn, hi5, Friendster, Plaxo and Ning. (dimensions and scenarios we commonly refer to as cities.)
The effort faces several hurdles. Developers may not see the advantage to writing programs that run across such remarkably different networks (diminsions) as, for example, LinkedIn, which caters to business professionals, and hi5, which is popular in Central America. (to the contrary, developers shall jump at the opportunity to write programs in exchange for revenue-sharing.)
Google's "open source" Android software shall provide users more opportunities to live vicariously through their mobile phones. In tracking the user's online actions, Google provides the 3D persona (avatar) detailed personality characteristics developed from the users real life online living experiences. Second Life's 3D avatar becomes boring and soon to be obsolete. Google is in a position to dominate & manipulate virtual life communities. Why?.... because Google's open application sources and the mobile phone is defining who you are by e-psycho-analyzing your online activities. See language in patents filed by Google... "User dialog (e.g., from role playing games, simulation games, etc) may be used to characterize the user (e.g., literate, profane, blunt or polite, quiet etc). Also, user play may be used to characterize the user (e.g., cautious, risk-taker, aggressive, non-confrontational, stealthy, honest, cooperative, uncooperative, etc)."
excerpts taken from:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/06/technology/06google.html?n=Top/News/Business/Companies/Goog
- Nuance Joins Open Handset Alliance
- by Nuance Communications November 7, 2007 4:11 PM PST
- ?Nuance joined the Open Handset Alliance with other industry leaders to grow the entire mobile ecosystem,? said Steve Chambers, president, mobile and consumer services division, Nuance Communications. ?We?re committed to apply our strength and leadership in voice-based search and messaging to move the market forward. By packaging and optimizing embedded speech technology components for open source distribution, we?ve given developers the opportunity to access speech solutions through open APIs using the Android platform and to easily upgrade to new, more advanced speech features as well. We believe deep collaboration with members of the Alliance will grow our core mobile business and fuel the proliferation of speech-enabled applications worldwide.?
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