(Credit:
Open Handset Alliance)
Like a number of my colleagues here at CNET, I had my ear pressed to the phone yesterday morning as the members of the Open Handset Alliance (OHA), including Google, Motorola, and HTC, revealed their plans for Android, a new open platform for mobile devices. I'm not here to recap all the details of the event here--CNET News.com has a comprehensive story on that--but rather just to jot down some of my thoughts.
Looking at the big picture, I welcome today's news. I think it's a really interesting move for all the parties involved, and I certainly feel that the Android project will lead to more innovative products--both handsets and applications. More importantly, it gives the consumer more power and choice when it comes to buying cell phones and smartphones. But it also raised a lot of questions. One of the first ones that popped into my head is how will Android affect the other mobile operating systems--Windows Mobile, Palm, Symbian, BlackBerry, and Apple. Will they suffer? Compete head-to-head? Or will they join the Open Handset Alliance?
During the press conference, one reporter asked how Android differs from all the other operating systems and I can't recall who responded but the answer was that Android is an open platform and open to third-party developers. Well, OK, but so does Symbian. Symbian really prides itself on this fact, but it hasn't enjoyed widespread adoption here in the United States. Part of the problem is that there are only a limited number of Symbian smartphones available on this side of the pond. Nokia and Sony Ericsson use Symbian, but for whatever reason, U.S. carriers have been reluctant to pick up any of these models. Sure, you can still get them but you often have to pay a steep $400 to $700 for an unlocked version. I don't know about you, but I don't have nor do I want to drop that much money for a cell phone. With this limited visibility and adoption rate in the States, I think Symbian will take the biggest hit. Sadly, I think the Google association alone gives Android more name recognition than Symbian.
And the others? Well, Palm just seems like a sinking ship, though I know it still enjoys a loyal following. Palm/Access needs to breathe some new life into the OS in order for it to keep afloat. I also noticed that the OHA kept focusing on the potential Web browsing capabilities of Android, which is great, but also leaves me to wonder how it will handle corporate e-mail, personal information management, and productivity apps--something Windows Mobile and BlackBerry devices do very well. And CNET News.com's Tom Krazit has an interesting take on how Android will (or won't) affect the Apple iPhone.
Without knowing what Android will entail, it's hard to tell how it will shake things up, but like I said before, I welcome it. I think it can only benefit the consumers. The next few months should be interesting, and I can't wait!
Google's cell phone strategy took shape Monday with the announcement of a new open software platform and an alliance of wireless heavyweights that will help form the development community for the planned phones.
Google has long been rumored to be working on software for cell phones that would integrate its applications. On Friday, CNET News.com reported that Google's plans went beyond simply developing software and instead included a whole consortium of companies working to develop an open platform cell phone application.
"Today's announcement is more ambitious than any single 'Google Phone' that the press has been speculating about over the past few weeks," Google Chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt said in a statement. "Our vision is that the powerful platform we're unveiling will power thousands of different phone models."
Google is officially unveiling Android, the new mobile phone software, during a press conference Monday morning. Thirty-four companies have said they will join the Open Handset Alliance, a multinational alliance that will work on developing applications on the Android platform. Members of the alliance include mobile handset makers HTC and Motorola, U.S. operator, T-Mobile, and chip maker Qualcomm.
The Android platform consists of an operating system, middleware, a user-friendly interface and applications. Consumers should expect the first phones based on Android to be available in the second half of 2008, Google said in a press release.
The Android software stack is expected to provide handset makers and wireless operators an open platform they can use to develop new and innovative applications. The new software will compete directly with smartphone software from other companies like Apple, Microsoft, Nokia, Palm and Research in Motion. Unlike some of these mobile operating systems, Android will not be tied to a specific device. Instead, the software will be able to work on a broad array of devices from handset makes such as Motorola, HTC, Samsung, and LG just to name a few.
The idea is that through the developer's alliance, handset makers and cell phone operators will be able to develop more user-friendly services and devices that help bring more of the Internet functionality onto mobile devices. And because of this open model, the companies involved also hope that by scaling the development, advanced functionality will be able to hit the market for less expensive mobile devices that will have more compelling and rich Internet services with more user-friendly interfaces.
"Our participation in the Open Handset Alliance and integration of the Android platform in the second half of 2008 enables us to expand our device portfolio into a new category of connected mobile phones that will change the complexion of the mobile industry and re-create user expectations of the mobile phone experience." Peter Chou, CEO of HTC said in a statement.
Companies in the alliance plan on releasing an access software development kit next week.
Read on for the official Google press release.
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