Comments on: Panasonic to embrace open-source smartphones

Panasonic is considering a move into open-source smartphone platforms in markets outside Japan. Will Android be the big winner or just share part of the prize?

[forever4now]

Android seems like a no-brainer to adopt. All device vendors benefit because:

1. It is a small, fast, secure, portable, stable and license-free platform.

2. It can be scaled up, for very powerful devices (smartphones, MIDs, netbooks, ...) or scaled down, for very low cost devices (feature phones, photo frames, appliances, ...).

3. It is community developed, so there is no need to wait for a single company to decide if/when they will deliver something.

4. It provides an application delivery platform, for value-added applications/services (free or revenue generating).

5. It is open source, so it can be custom tailored by device vendors for their desired user experience, without losing app compatibility.

6. It allows vendors to focus on devices/applications/services (REAL revenue), rather than proprietary OS development & support.

[jhhooeyy]

Screw android. Android is all about google; google code, google browser, google gmail, and last but foremost, google money. You can't even use a G1 unless you have a gmail acct.. Let's get something straight. Google IS NOT a platform. It's all about generating income for google.
Moblin netbook beta (intel atom) is TRULY open source, from the bios, to the drivers, and all the software, and doesn't force you to use google anything. It requires an intel atom cpu and embedded intel graphics. It was not designed for cell phone use, but in my opinion, stands to be OH SO MUCH more powerful than a few lines of google code on some overpriced underpowered java based BS.
Again, google does not work for free and every device that uses their proprietary code will have some scheme wherein google gets a cut. That's open source? I think not. It just a cheap-ass marketing scheme to put $ in google's pocket and at the same time get everyone on google's page. NO THANKS

[phxgoose]

Wow you just absolutly hate google don't you? Anyways you are correct you are required to have a gmail account, but it does not require you to use it. You can set up other email accounts on the device. But given how many people have gmail accounts it doesn't seem to be that big of deal unless you are a google hater.

[Mobikyo]

Hi David:

Your article states: "...Panasonic is getting closer to taking the plunge into non-Japanese markets as the company launches the HT-03a, its first Android-based device for NTT Docomo this summer in Japan."

However, the HT-03a model - aka Magic - is produced by HTC:
http://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/product/foma/pro/ht03a/index.html

Just thought there might be some 'confusion' there..?!?

Cheers,

Lars