Google unveils Android, Open Handset Alliance

On Monday Google finally made public the worst-kept secret in wireless, officially announcing the development of Android, a Linux-based open software platform for mobile devices. Google also will lead a broad industry group, dubbed the Open Handset Alliance, formed with the stated 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." The 34 members of the Open Handset Alliance include HTC, LG, Motorola and Samsung, which will reportedly manufacture Google OS-based handsets for commercial release sometime next year; operators Sprint, T-Mobile, NTT DoCoMo, KDDI and China Telecom; chipmakers Broadcom, Intel, Qualcomm and Texas Instruments; and related firms including SiRF Technology Holdings, Marvell Technology Group, Nvidia, Synaptics, Skype-owner eBay and Nuance Communications.

The Open Handset Alliance turns upside down the conventional mobile revenue model--Google will virtually give away software and services in exchange for income derived from targeted mobile advertising efforts. In its official press statement, Google promises 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." As early as next week, the Open Handset Alliance will issue its first software development kit.

"We see Android as an important part of our strategy of furthering Google's goal of providing access to information to users wherever they are," writes Google's director of mobile platforms Andy Rubin in a post on the Official Google Blog. "We recognize that many among the multitude of mobile users around the world do not and may never have an Android-based phone. Our goals must be independent of device or even platform. For this reason, Android will complement, but not replace, our longstanding mobile strategy of developing useful and compelling mobile services and driving adoption of these products through partnerships with handset manufacturers and mobile operators around the world."

For more on Android:
- read this release

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