Latest Technology Trends

Android: Google’s Open Source Mobile OS

The gPhone is not released yet with all those speculations and rumors, but Google joined forces with leading mobile technology companies to announce the development of Android, the first truly open and comprehensive platform for mobile devices.

Google Inc., T-Mobile, HTC, Qualcomm, Motorola and others have collaborated on the development of Android through the Open Handset Alliance, a multinational alliance of technology and mobile industry leaders.

This alliance shares a common goal of fostering innovation on mobile devices and giving consumers a far better user experience than much of what is available on today’s mobile platforms. By providing developers a new level of openness that enables them to work more collaboratively, Android will accelerate the pace at which new and compelling mobile services are made available to consumers.

Not surprisingly, Android is a Java/Linux-based smart phone software platform announced by Google and the other members of the Open Handset Alliance on 5 Nov 2007. Parts of the Android platform are free software available under the Apache open source license. The release of the Android platform was combined with the announcement of the Open Handset Alliance, a consortium of 34 hardware, software and telecoms companies devoted to advancing open standards for mobile devices^.

Consumers should expect the first phones based on Android to be available in the second half of 2008.

The Android platform will be made available under one of the most progressive, developer-friendly open-source licenses, which gives mobile operators and device manufacturers significant freedom and flexibility to design products. Next week the Alliance will release an early access software development kit to provide developers with the tools necessary to create innovative and compelling applications for the platform.