Google has just announced its much talked about Google mobile phone platform, Android, and has announced a large list of partners who are working with the company. The company said it’s worked with T-Mobile, HTC, Qualcomm, Motorola, Samsung, LG Electronics and others on the development of Android through the Open Handset Alliance, a multinational alliance of technology and mobile industry leaders.Andy Rubin, who spearheaded the project, writes on the Google blog:
Despite all of the very interesting speculation over the last few months, we’re not announcing a Gphone. However, we think what we are announcing is more significant and ambitious than a single phone. (…) It’s important to recognize that the Open Handset Alliance and Android have the potential to be major changes from the status quo — one which will take patience and much investment by the various players before you’ll see the first benefits. But we feel the potential gains for mobile customers around the world are worth the effort.
The first handsets are likely to be available in the second half of 2008, the company said. Other partners in the alliance include Sprint Nextel (S), Telecom Italia, NTT DoCoMo, Broadcom (BRCM), and a slew of other technology companies.
What is Android? A fully integrated mobile “software stack” that consists of an operating system, middleware, user-friendly interface and applications. It 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.
Read more in Open Handset Alliance , Google blog and GigaOM
Tags: Android, Google, HTC, LG Electronics, m-platform, Mobile, Motorola, Qualcomm, Samsung, T-Mobile
