China Unicom takes on iOS, Android with Wophone mobile OS

China Unicom parent China United Network Communications Group unveiled Wophone, a new mobile operating system optimized for smartphones and tablet devices. Manufacturers including Motorola Mobility (NYSE: MMI), Samsung Electronics, HTC, ZTE and Huawei have committed to developing devices based on the Linux-based Wophone, China Unicom said--The Wall Street Journal reports that Wophone is not based on Google's (NASDAQ:GOOG) fast-growing Android mobile OS, although a China Unicom spokesperson declined to comment on whether the decision is a result of Google's disputes with Chinese legislators. Last year, Google moved its mainland China search engine to Hong Kong, citing censorship and hacking concerns.

Although Android and Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS continue to make headway in the sprawling Chinese market, Symbian remains the dominant smartphone OS, representing 60.1 percent of all smartphones in use among Chinese subscribers according to Beijing research firm Analysys International. Microsoft's (NASDAQ:MSFT) Windows Mobile is next with 13.1 percent--Android ranks third at 10.7 percent, followed by iOS at 5.4 percent.

As of January 2011, China Unicom boasts 169.7 million mobile subscribers, including 15.5 million 3G customers. The operator trails far behind market leader China Mobile, which serves 589.3 million subscribers, including 22.6 million 3G customers. Late last year, China Unicom launched WoStore, a mobile application storefront promising support for "all open smartphone platforms."

For more:
- read this Wall Street Journal article

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