14 DAY TRIAL // After months of preparations and teasing, Google just unveiled its Android open platform for mobile phones. The software seems to be the result of a major collaboration, which also included big names in the industry, such as Google, T-Mobile, HTC, Qualcomm, Motorola and others.
All the thirty-four companies that worked on developing the Android platform are part of the Open Handset Alliance, a multinational partnership of mobile industry leaders and their technology. The companies hope that the Android platform will make it possible for developers, wireless operators and handset manufacturers to bring more innovative products out on the market. Moreover, handset users might benefit from the advantage of lower costs, as well as from a more personal and flexible experience.
The Android platform consists of an operating system, middleware, user-friendly interface and applications. The software will be made available under an open-source license which is supposed to encourage manufacturers and developers to bring out new products. Anybody will be free to customize Android in order to bring to market innovative new products faster and at a much lower cost.
"Today's announcement is more ambitious than any single 'Google Phone' that the press has been speculating about over the past few weeks. Our vision is that the powerful platform we're unveiling will power thousands of different phone models", said Google Chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt. "This partnership will help unleash the potential of mobile technology for billions of users around the world. A fresh approach to fostering innovation in the mobile industry will help shape a new computing environment that will change the way people access and share information in the future", he further added.
A free software that allows developers to show their best and also bring cost benefits to consumers is just what was needed in the current situation, when having the liberty of using and sharing applications and information is disputed. The Android open platform will be available starting the second half of year 2008.