SUNNYVALE, USA: MIPS Technologies Inc., a leading provider of industry-standard processor architectures and cores, announced it has joined the Open Handset Alliance, a group of more than 45 technology and mobile companies working to offer consumers a richer, less expensive, and better mobile experience.
The Open Handset Alliance developed Android, the first complete, open and free mobile platform. As a member of the Open Handset Alliance, MIPS Technologies will work with other members to contribute to continued development and success of the Android platform for mobile devices.
MIPS Technologies is already an active developer and contributor to Android development, recently making publicly available its source code optimized for the MIPS architecture. As part of its relationship with the Open Handset Alliance, MIPS will contribute the Android on MIPS code to the Android Open Source Project.
"The Open Handset Alliance was visionary in starting Android, and we are pleased to be contributing to that vision, helping developers quickly and easily create new and innovative internet-connected devices and applications," said Art Swift, vice president of marketing, MIPS Technologies.
"We are excited to be enabling developers to create MIPS-Based mobile solutions around Android. This complements the work we have already been doing with Android, and offers our customers even more options for next-generation devices."
Showing posts with label Android. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Android. Show all posts
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Android key to defining mobile experience from operators
BOSTON, USA: Due to the rise of mobile internet and its associated revenue opportunities, cell phone carriers are trying to wrestle control of the user experience away from device manufacturers.
Operators are focusing on open operating systems, such as Google’s Android, which allow them greater design input, and create additional revenue opportunities from application downloads.
The next big advance in mobile user experience will come from digital home convergence. These findings were based on interviews conducted with cell phone operators in the US and Western Europe. Details may be found in the Strategy Analytics Wireless Media Labs report, “Mobile Operators Aiming for Control and Convergence of the User Experience.”
“Cell phone carriers still face many barriers to delivery of an optimal user experience,” commented Chris Schreiner, Senior Analyst at Strategy Analytics. “Organizational structures that do not foster communication between different product and service groups are a major obstacle to developing a holistic experience.”
Kevin Nolan, Vice President in the Strategy Analytics User Experience Practice, added, "Operators that offer so-called ‘Triple Play’ packages combining broadband, TV and cell phones, have an immediate head start on the ability to make the next leap in mobile user experience into the digital home.”
Operators are focusing on open operating systems, such as Google’s Android, which allow them greater design input, and create additional revenue opportunities from application downloads.
The next big advance in mobile user experience will come from digital home convergence. These findings were based on interviews conducted with cell phone operators in the US and Western Europe. Details may be found in the Strategy Analytics Wireless Media Labs report, “Mobile Operators Aiming for Control and Convergence of the User Experience.”
“Cell phone carriers still face many barriers to delivery of an optimal user experience,” commented Chris Schreiner, Senior Analyst at Strategy Analytics. “Organizational structures that do not foster communication between different product and service groups are a major obstacle to developing a holistic experience.”
Kevin Nolan, Vice President in the Strategy Analytics User Experience Practice, added, "Operators that offer so-called ‘Triple Play’ packages combining broadband, TV and cell phones, have an immediate head start on the ability to make the next leap in mobile user experience into the digital home.”
Friday, September 4, 2009
Sixty applications for Android and Moblin presented by Handcase
BRAZIL: Of the 100 applications the Handcase presents the first 60 for Android and Moblin. Page created to provide the software, http://www.handycase.com/eng/andmob.htm
It is recommended to compare the screens of products for PalmOS (access to sections of the HandSoft, division of software - www.handycase.com/handsoft/eng/) and see how easy it will be.
The software will be offered as a service and the web 2.0 style. "We know that we are offering something, which by volume, segmentation and mobility has not yet been offered. We also know that it will be a nice challenge, to offer this software globally, as mobile services, but we are prepared. After all, our extensive portfolio is proof that we can," says Ricardo Garay, CEO, Handcase.
The software will be offered as a subscription. Users will have the resources available as skins, encrypted security, option to create their own mobile social networks, and more. Carriers can offer unique customized versions. Users will have options to access wi-fi for free, or be signed by your carrier.
The options of signing will be: free for personal users with and without advertising, paid and free for professionals and pay for companies. One of the services yet to be free for businesses, will be Co2Global, the software for management of carbon credits, the first in the world, launched in 2008 by Handcase, which will have its version to service, offered soon.
"We emphasize that, for those who already have or buy a version for PalmOS, version Android and Moblin will be free." Garay explains.
"It must be said that do not forget the LiMo, and we will work for it too." Ricardo concluded. The Handcase time, will detail in the exclusive website, the beta versions of each of the first software 60, when then officially communicate the launch.
It is recommended to compare the screens of products for PalmOS (access to sections of the HandSoft, division of software - www.handycase.com/handsoft/eng/) and see how easy it will be.
The software will be offered as a service and the web 2.0 style. "We know that we are offering something, which by volume, segmentation and mobility has not yet been offered. We also know that it will be a nice challenge, to offer this software globally, as mobile services, but we are prepared. After all, our extensive portfolio is proof that we can," says Ricardo Garay, CEO, Handcase.
The software will be offered as a subscription. Users will have the resources available as skins, encrypted security, option to create their own mobile social networks, and more. Carriers can offer unique customized versions. Users will have options to access wi-fi for free, or be signed by your carrier.
The options of signing will be: free for personal users with and without advertising, paid and free for professionals and pay for companies. One of the services yet to be free for businesses, will be Co2Global, the software for management of carbon credits, the first in the world, launched in 2008 by Handcase, which will have its version to service, offered soon.
"We emphasize that, for those who already have or buy a version for PalmOS, version Android and Moblin will be free." Garay explains.
"It must be said that do not forget the LiMo, and we will work for it too." Ricardo concluded. The Handcase time, will detail in the exclusive website, the beta versions of each of the first software 60, when then officially communicate the launch.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Smartphone downloads from all app stores to reach 6.67 billion in 2014
MOUNTAIN VIEW, USA: Smartphone penetration in the US mobile markets is increasing rapidly. For some time, mobile operators have been offering a branded 'catalog' of mobile content and services that could be purchased from the handset itself.
However, all that is changing for smartphones, in which newer types of targeted app stores are being introduced to enable the device owner to purchase content from outside the operator environment. The availability of a large number of inexpensive or free mobile applications that leverage the next-generation technical capabilities of the target device will help drive adoption.
However, in the end, service differentiation and generating suitable return on investment from the app store business could be challenging.
New analysis from Frost & Sullivan: An Insight into the US Smartphone Application Storefront Market, finds that smartphone downloads from all app stores will reach 6.67 billion in 2014. The market segments covered in this research include prepaid and postpaid mobile, SMS and MMS, mobile Internet, iPhone, Android, Windows Mobile, Palm, and Symbian.
"Next-generation devices are being introduced at a rapid pace, and stakeholders are offering app stores to facilitate downloads of compelling applications from multiple categories, serving a wide range of communication, entertainment, information, and personalization requirements of the mobile user," says Frost & Sullivan Industry Analyst Vikrant Gandhi.
"For example, Apple, Google, Nokia, Palm and Microsoft have either already introduced app stores or are in various stages of app store rollouts and are working to ensure that the entire service experience is compelling for the end user or device owner."
A vast majority of applications are available 'free of cost' to the end user, significantly driving adoption in the US smartphone app store market. These applications leverage advanced device capabilities such as touch screen, accelerometers, full Web browsing, and location-based services, among others, to deliver a truly compelling proposition.
The most significant challenge is to ensure service differentiation and optimal management of the scale of the app store business. App store providers should always be open to support new business models to drive the introduction of innovative services and content types. Having a clear value proposition is also important for mobile operators.
"Unless the app store providers establish exclusivity agreements with application developers -- something that is not feasible for a large majority of applications -- it will be difficult to provide enough differentiation through the app stores," notes Gandhi.
"The best example of how this could be done is Apple's app store, in which the entire experience of service purchase and consumption -- including device characteristics, form factor and the operating environment -- was a radical shift at the time of its introduction."
This does not mean that services could not be differentiated at all. The moot point then is the extent to which providers are willing to invest in their infrastructure to offer new service to their customers, which then ties back into something that is still being examined -- identifying the main purpose of launching the app stores and if app stores alone are strong enough reasons to purchase a particular type of device.
A single participant cannot provide all the services in the mobile content industry. App store providers need to work with multiple application providers and offer them sufficient incentives for their app store initiatives.
Services of independent, third-party app store providers such as Handango, Handmark, and PocketGear can also be used to run an app store business profitably with adequate service differentiation.
"For instance, outsourcing or white-labeling of the app store business might become a good idea in the long run since a device vendor or an operating system provider may not want to commit large resources to manage the smartphone app store business," concludes Gandhi.
However, all that is changing for smartphones, in which newer types of targeted app stores are being introduced to enable the device owner to purchase content from outside the operator environment. The availability of a large number of inexpensive or free mobile applications that leverage the next-generation technical capabilities of the target device will help drive adoption.
However, in the end, service differentiation and generating suitable return on investment from the app store business could be challenging.
New analysis from Frost & Sullivan: An Insight into the US Smartphone Application Storefront Market, finds that smartphone downloads from all app stores will reach 6.67 billion in 2014. The market segments covered in this research include prepaid and postpaid mobile, SMS and MMS, mobile Internet, iPhone, Android, Windows Mobile, Palm, and Symbian.
"Next-generation devices are being introduced at a rapid pace, and stakeholders are offering app stores to facilitate downloads of compelling applications from multiple categories, serving a wide range of communication, entertainment, information, and personalization requirements of the mobile user," says Frost & Sullivan Industry Analyst Vikrant Gandhi.
"For example, Apple, Google, Nokia, Palm and Microsoft have either already introduced app stores or are in various stages of app store rollouts and are working to ensure that the entire service experience is compelling for the end user or device owner."
A vast majority of applications are available 'free of cost' to the end user, significantly driving adoption in the US smartphone app store market. These applications leverage advanced device capabilities such as touch screen, accelerometers, full Web browsing, and location-based services, among others, to deliver a truly compelling proposition.
The most significant challenge is to ensure service differentiation and optimal management of the scale of the app store business. App store providers should always be open to support new business models to drive the introduction of innovative services and content types. Having a clear value proposition is also important for mobile operators.
"Unless the app store providers establish exclusivity agreements with application developers -- something that is not feasible for a large majority of applications -- it will be difficult to provide enough differentiation through the app stores," notes Gandhi.
"The best example of how this could be done is Apple's app store, in which the entire experience of service purchase and consumption -- including device characteristics, form factor and the operating environment -- was a radical shift at the time of its introduction."
This does not mean that services could not be differentiated at all. The moot point then is the extent to which providers are willing to invest in their infrastructure to offer new service to their customers, which then ties back into something that is still being examined -- identifying the main purpose of launching the app stores and if app stores alone are strong enough reasons to purchase a particular type of device.
A single participant cannot provide all the services in the mobile content industry. App store providers need to work with multiple application providers and offer them sufficient incentives for their app store initiatives.
Services of independent, third-party app store providers such as Handango, Handmark, and PocketGear can also be used to run an app store business profitably with adequate service differentiation.
"For instance, outsourcing or white-labeling of the app store business might become a good idea in the long run since a device vendor or an operating system provider may not want to commit large resources to manage the smartphone app store business," concludes Gandhi.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Symbian's dominance fading, says Strategy Analytics
BOSTON, USA:The high R&D costs involved in developing a brand new mobile OS –- and building an ecosystem around it -– could potentially consolidate the smartphone OS market, according to the Strategy Analytics Handset Component Technologies service report, “Symbian's Dominance Fading as Mobile Software Platform Market Becomes More Crowded.”
However, this doesn’t mean that the door is closed for new entrants, and Strategy Analytics predicts that Nokia’s Linux based Maemo platform could potentially feature in future smartphones.
The majority of smartphone manufacturers lack their own OS and ecosystems, and are using a common platform to rapidly build market share in the high-growth smartphone market.
Stuart Robinson, Director of the company’s Handset Component Technologies service commented: “Strategy Analytics believes that smartphone Operating Systems with a strong consumer focus and a strong R&D budget will sustain competitive advantages and take huge market share in the future. In this respect, we place our bets on Android, iPhone OS and Symbian.”
Sravan Kundojjala, Analyst, adds: “Strategy Analytics estimates that smartphone OS vendors currently spend $100-$200 million on R&D on average. This, along with the arduous work involved in creating an ecosystem around the OS, could potentially force handset vendors to consolidate their efforts around one or two third-party licensable Operating Systems.”
However, this doesn’t mean that the door is closed for new entrants, and Strategy Analytics predicts that Nokia’s Linux based Maemo platform could potentially feature in future smartphones.
The majority of smartphone manufacturers lack their own OS and ecosystems, and are using a common platform to rapidly build market share in the high-growth smartphone market.
Stuart Robinson, Director of the company’s Handset Component Technologies service commented: “Strategy Analytics believes that smartphone Operating Systems with a strong consumer focus and a strong R&D budget will sustain competitive advantages and take huge market share in the future. In this respect, we place our bets on Android, iPhone OS and Symbian.”
Sravan Kundojjala, Analyst, adds: “Strategy Analytics estimates that smartphone OS vendors currently spend $100-$200 million on R&D on average. This, along with the arduous work involved in creating an ecosystem around the OS, could potentially force handset vendors to consolidate their efforts around one or two third-party licensable Operating Systems.”
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Adobe, HTC bring flash platform to Android
SAN JOSE, USA & LONDON, UK: Adobe Systems Inc. and HTC, a global designer of mobile phones, announced that the new HTC Hero is the first Android phone to ship with support for Adobe Flash platform technology.
The new phone delivers a more complete Web browsing experience and provides access to a broad variety of Flash technology based content available on the Web today.
“As the first Android device with Flash, the new HTC Hero represents a key milestone for Android and the Flash Platform. With close to 80 percent of all videos online delivered with Adobe Flash technology, consumers want to access rich Web content on-the-go,” said David Wadhwani, vice president and general manager, Platform Business Unit at Adobe. “The collaboration with HTC offers people a more complete Flash based Web browsing experience today and presents an important step towards full Web browsing with Flash Player 10 on mobile phones in the future.”
The new HTC Hero is a key element of the HTC experience and a new generation of HTC mobile phones and devices. Users can browse and discover a broad set of Web content and applications not supported by mobile phones in the past. People can also view YouTube videos using Flash technology, and enable full screen viewing mode by simply double tapping the screen.
“Adobe Flash is an important core technology for people interacting and experiencing the Web, it is only natural to be offering it on the new HTC Hero first,” said John Wang, chief marketing officer, HTC Corporation. “We look forward to continuing our close collaboration with Adobe and to bringing Flash Player 10 support to our phones in the future.”
The HTC Hero delivers powerful, compatible video playback performance using Flash technology, and interactive content enabled by ActionScript 2.0. Users can enjoy and navigate through Web videos using intuitive video controls.
With progressive streaming of large MP3 audio files from a Web server and the local file storage, the HTC Hero provides a seamless audio experience. Support for Sorenson and On2 VP6 codecs enables higher quality video and playback of existing Web content. A demo of the user experience enabled by the Flash Platform on the HTC Hero and the Android operating system can be viewed at www.adobe.com/go/htchero.
HTC participates in Open Screen project
HTC also announced its participation in the Open Screen Project, a broad industry effort to deliver a consistent runtime across screens and to provide access to all Flash technology based Web content in the future.
As a contributor to the initiative, HTC is collaborating with Adobe and more than 25 other industry leaders to bring Flash Player 10 and full Web browsing to the next generation of Android based smartphones and other mobile computing platforms and devices.
The new phone delivers a more complete Web browsing experience and provides access to a broad variety of Flash technology based content available on the Web today.
“As the first Android device with Flash, the new HTC Hero represents a key milestone for Android and the Flash Platform. With close to 80 percent of all videos online delivered with Adobe Flash technology, consumers want to access rich Web content on-the-go,” said David Wadhwani, vice president and general manager, Platform Business Unit at Adobe. “The collaboration with HTC offers people a more complete Flash based Web browsing experience today and presents an important step towards full Web browsing with Flash Player 10 on mobile phones in the future.”
The new HTC Hero is a key element of the HTC experience and a new generation of HTC mobile phones and devices. Users can browse and discover a broad set of Web content and applications not supported by mobile phones in the past. People can also view YouTube videos using Flash technology, and enable full screen viewing mode by simply double tapping the screen.
“Adobe Flash is an important core technology for people interacting and experiencing the Web, it is only natural to be offering it on the new HTC Hero first,” said John Wang, chief marketing officer, HTC Corporation. “We look forward to continuing our close collaboration with Adobe and to bringing Flash Player 10 support to our phones in the future.”
The HTC Hero delivers powerful, compatible video playback performance using Flash technology, and interactive content enabled by ActionScript 2.0. Users can enjoy and navigate through Web videos using intuitive video controls.
With progressive streaming of large MP3 audio files from a Web server and the local file storage, the HTC Hero provides a seamless audio experience. Support for Sorenson and On2 VP6 codecs enables higher quality video and playback of existing Web content. A demo of the user experience enabled by the Flash Platform on the HTC Hero and the Android operating system can be viewed at www.adobe.com/go/htchero.
HTC participates in Open Screen project
HTC also announced its participation in the Open Screen Project, a broad industry effort to deliver a consistent runtime across screens and to provide access to all Flash technology based Web content in the future.
As a contributor to the initiative, HTC is collaborating with Adobe and more than 25 other industry leaders to bring Flash Player 10 and full Web browsing to the next generation of Android based smartphones and other mobile computing platforms and devices.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
RMI delivers Android capability for mobile connected applications
COMPUTEX TAIPEI 2009, TAIWAN & CUPERTINO, USA: At COMPUTEX Taipei 2009, RMI Corporation, a leading provider of high-performance processors for communication and media rich applications, announced the availability of a complete Android version 1.5 (“Cupcake”) reference design for mobile connected applications.
The Android solution benefits from the power-optimized, high performance Alchemy processor family and brings a complete turnkey solution aided by partnerships with Embedded Alley, a leading provider of embedded Linux and Android solutions, and MIPS Technologies Inc., a leading provider of industry-standard processor architectures and cores for home entertainment, communications, networking and portable multimedia markets.
“By bringing the Alchemy processor to the market with Android capabilities gives us an additional advantage for success with MIDs and connected media devices,” said Mike Wodopian, vice president and general manager, RMI. “The power-optimization and the high-performance processing offered opens up a variety of applications and capabilities that our customers are demanding.”
“The MIPS architecture brings a powerful capability to the Android market, giving our licensees such as RMI the flexibility to meet the needs of their customers in the connected portable media market and beyond,” said Art Swift, vice president of marketing, MIPS Technologies. “With our focus on Android combined with RMI’s innovative developments, the world’s leading consumer electronics suppliers will be able to implement capabilities and features that were not possible before.”
The Alchemy Android reference platform is the ideal solution for mobile connected applications such as MIDs, Netbooks, AVN, Home Media Players, PMPs and PND devices. The Android solution runs on the Alchemy Processor family and highlights:
* A powerful open connected applications platform, customizable for each device.
* Android V1.5, with libraries and Dalvik VM optimized for MIPS.
* Broad support for all significant Video and Audio content standards.
* High performance processing at ultra-low Alchemy power levels.
The Embedded Alley Development System for Android-based devices supports cross development for both platform and application software. It targets MIPS architecture devices, with support for the RMI Alchemy Processor family development board (BdAu) and HMP Processor solutions.
In the development system, Embedded Alley provides an up-to-date production kernel (2.6.29), run-time libraries, the Android application framework and off-the-shelf applications. Embedded Alley has optimized the Android Dalvik VM and bionic library for MIPS processor cores and enables developers to prototype and test using the Android Device Emulator, an Eclipse-based plug-in for the Embedded Alley Development System, and customize the emulator to match their end products.
“Together, Embedded Alley and RMI deliver a turnkey solution for OEMs creating multimedia, mobile internet, automotive and a wide range of other applications,” said Matthew Locke, Embedded Alley COO. “Embedded Alley expertise and experience in enabling Android-based devices and applications, and the power of RMI Alchemy processors, make an unbeatable combination.”
In its suite at the COMPUTEX Taipei conference, RMI, along with MIPS Technologies and Embedded Alley featured multiple demonstrations of the Android platform including a Home Media Player (HMP) running Android. Attendees can see the power of Android in several applications, including full internet browsing capability.
The Android solution benefits from the power-optimized, high performance Alchemy processor family and brings a complete turnkey solution aided by partnerships with Embedded Alley, a leading provider of embedded Linux and Android solutions, and MIPS Technologies Inc., a leading provider of industry-standard processor architectures and cores for home entertainment, communications, networking and portable multimedia markets.
“By bringing the Alchemy processor to the market with Android capabilities gives us an additional advantage for success with MIDs and connected media devices,” said Mike Wodopian, vice president and general manager, RMI. “The power-optimization and the high-performance processing offered opens up a variety of applications and capabilities that our customers are demanding.”
“The MIPS architecture brings a powerful capability to the Android market, giving our licensees such as RMI the flexibility to meet the needs of their customers in the connected portable media market and beyond,” said Art Swift, vice president of marketing, MIPS Technologies. “With our focus on Android combined with RMI’s innovative developments, the world’s leading consumer electronics suppliers will be able to implement capabilities and features that were not possible before.”
The Alchemy Android reference platform is the ideal solution for mobile connected applications such as MIDs, Netbooks, AVN, Home Media Players, PMPs and PND devices. The Android solution runs on the Alchemy Processor family and highlights:
* A powerful open connected applications platform, customizable for each device.
* Android V1.5, with libraries and Dalvik VM optimized for MIPS.
* Broad support for all significant Video and Audio content standards.
* High performance processing at ultra-low Alchemy power levels.
The Embedded Alley Development System for Android-based devices supports cross development for both platform and application software. It targets MIPS architecture devices, with support for the RMI Alchemy Processor family development board (BdAu) and HMP Processor solutions.
In the development system, Embedded Alley provides an up-to-date production kernel (2.6.29), run-time libraries, the Android application framework and off-the-shelf applications. Embedded Alley has optimized the Android Dalvik VM and bionic library for MIPS processor cores and enables developers to prototype and test using the Android Device Emulator, an Eclipse-based plug-in for the Embedded Alley Development System, and customize the emulator to match their end products.
“Together, Embedded Alley and RMI deliver a turnkey solution for OEMs creating multimedia, mobile internet, automotive and a wide range of other applications,” said Matthew Locke, Embedded Alley COO. “Embedded Alley expertise and experience in enabling Android-based devices and applications, and the power of RMI Alchemy processors, make an unbeatable combination.”
In its suite at the COMPUTEX Taipei conference, RMI, along with MIPS Technologies and Embedded Alley featured multiple demonstrations of the Android platform including a Home Media Player (HMP) running Android. Attendees can see the power of Android in several applications, including full internet browsing capability.
Open Kernel Labs accelerates smartphone deployments with OK:Android
CHICAGO, USA: Open Kernel Labs (OK Labs), the leading provider of virtualization software for mobile phones and broadband internet devices, today introduced OK:Android, an off-the-shelf paravirtualized version of the Android smartphone platform.
Using Secure HyperCell Technology, OK:Android enables Android to be used as a guest operating system running in a secure hypercell on top of the OKL4 microvisor, the OK Labs mobile phone virtualization platform. OK:Android gives handset manufacturers (OEMs) a short path to developing and delivering new designs with Android. The combination of OK:Android and OKL4 also extends new levels of security and robustness to the increasingly popular smartphone OS from Google and the Open Handset Alliance (OHA).
To date, Android-based handsets have been delivered by Taiwan-based HTC, with additional designs announced by Motorola, Samsung and other handset OEMs. Although Google and the OHA have been successful in engaging device suppliers and building a developer community, semiconductor suppliers, mobile OEMs and mobile network operators (MNOs) still face the significant challenges involved in porting and hosting Android on current chipsets and on new mobile hardware.
By providing a flexible framework for Android integration with specific handset hardware and a straightforward way to reuse legacy software in new Android devices, OK:Android helps reduce time to market for a new wave of Android devices.
Since its introduction in 2008, Android has enjoyed a rapidly-growing market presence and bullish prospects for new deployments. One million Android-based handsets have shipped in 2008 as indicated by HTC; and research and consulting firm Strategy Analytics projects nine times that number in 2009.
“Virtualization technology is being evaluated by many handset OEMs today, primarily for its significant time-to-market benefits for new phone designs,” noted Andreas Constantinou, lead analyst at VisionMobile. OK Labs virtualization technology already ships in over 300 million mobile handsets, including Android-based devices where OKL4 runs on the baseband processor. With OK:Android and the OKL4 microvisor, OK Labs can further accelerate Android adoption for new designs.
“OK:Android builds on the strong synergies between the OKL4 microvisor and the Android mobile OS,” said Steve Subar, OK Labs CEO. “Both Android and OKL4 are based on dynamic open source projects, both are shipping in volume, and both streamline development through abstraction –- Android at the applications level and OKL4 for system software, including Android itself. Together in OK:Android, they offer OEMs, MNOs and ISVs a flexible, portable and secure applications and services platform.”
OK:Android: Platform for Mobile OEMs, MNOs and ISVs
The impact of OK:Android starts by helping OEMs bring designs to market faster, and further extends its impact by incorporating a range of benefits across the emerging Android ecosystem. In particular, OK:Android enables OEMs, MNOs and ISVs to:
* Offer new options for creating and prototyping Android-based devices and applications with embedded virtualization.
* Create more secure and robust mobile devices, applications and services with Android and OKL4.
* Run Android together with other mobile OSes and/or deploy multiple instances of Android on a single device.
* Consolidate hardware (e.g., base band and application CPU cores) for more aggressive price-points for Android-based handsets.
* Create new Android-based devices enabled for mobile-to-enterprise virtualization (M2E). M2E is a set of joint solutions developed by Citrix Systems, Inc. and OK Labs for delivering enterprise applications to mobile devices.
OK:Android and OKL4 are available immediately from OK Labs and its global channel partners.
Using Secure HyperCell Technology, OK:Android enables Android to be used as a guest operating system running in a secure hypercell on top of the OKL4 microvisor, the OK Labs mobile phone virtualization platform. OK:Android gives handset manufacturers (OEMs) a short path to developing and delivering new designs with Android. The combination of OK:Android and OKL4 also extends new levels of security and robustness to the increasingly popular smartphone OS from Google and the Open Handset Alliance (OHA).
To date, Android-based handsets have been delivered by Taiwan-based HTC, with additional designs announced by Motorola, Samsung and other handset OEMs. Although Google and the OHA have been successful in engaging device suppliers and building a developer community, semiconductor suppliers, mobile OEMs and mobile network operators (MNOs) still face the significant challenges involved in porting and hosting Android on current chipsets and on new mobile hardware.
By providing a flexible framework for Android integration with specific handset hardware and a straightforward way to reuse legacy software in new Android devices, OK:Android helps reduce time to market for a new wave of Android devices.
Since its introduction in 2008, Android has enjoyed a rapidly-growing market presence and bullish prospects for new deployments. One million Android-based handsets have shipped in 2008 as indicated by HTC; and research and consulting firm Strategy Analytics projects nine times that number in 2009.
“Virtualization technology is being evaluated by many handset OEMs today, primarily for its significant time-to-market benefits for new phone designs,” noted Andreas Constantinou, lead analyst at VisionMobile. OK Labs virtualization technology already ships in over 300 million mobile handsets, including Android-based devices where OKL4 runs on the baseband processor. With OK:Android and the OKL4 microvisor, OK Labs can further accelerate Android adoption for new designs.
“OK:Android builds on the strong synergies between the OKL4 microvisor and the Android mobile OS,” said Steve Subar, OK Labs CEO. “Both Android and OKL4 are based on dynamic open source projects, both are shipping in volume, and both streamline development through abstraction –- Android at the applications level and OKL4 for system software, including Android itself. Together in OK:Android, they offer OEMs, MNOs and ISVs a flexible, portable and secure applications and services platform.”
OK:Android: Platform for Mobile OEMs, MNOs and ISVs
The impact of OK:Android starts by helping OEMs bring designs to market faster, and further extends its impact by incorporating a range of benefits across the emerging Android ecosystem. In particular, OK:Android enables OEMs, MNOs and ISVs to:
* Offer new options for creating and prototyping Android-based devices and applications with embedded virtualization.
* Create more secure and robust mobile devices, applications and services with Android and OKL4.
* Run Android together with other mobile OSes and/or deploy multiple instances of Android on a single device.
* Consolidate hardware (e.g., base band and application CPU cores) for more aggressive price-points for Android-based handsets.
* Create new Android-based devices enabled for mobile-to-enterprise virtualization (M2E). M2E is a set of joint solutions developed by Citrix Systems, Inc. and OK Labs for delivering enterprise applications to mobile devices.
OK:Android and OKL4 are available immediately from OK Labs and its global channel partners.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Smartphones: Silver lining of declining handset market
Ovum comment from Adam Leach, Devices principal analyst.
Smartphone shipments will reach 406.7 million by 2014
UK: During 2008, in a first for the mobile industry, consumer demand for third-party applications started driving both handset sales and revenues for developers and OEMs.
Apple's success with the App Store has prompted other players to focus on devices that can enable third-party developers to easily bring applications and services to mobile phones. Subsequently the global economic downturn has stimulated a renewed focus on smartphones.
The collapse of the market for mid-tier handsets in 2009 is polarising the handset market, with vendors and mobile operators focusing on two types of handset: those targeting the low-end and high-end segments. The end result is a quickening of the replacement of 2G in favour of the high-end 3G handsets, and greater volumes of smartphones.
Ovum expects that these factors will see smartphone shipments grow by 18.7 percent between 2008 and 2009 despite the overall decline during the same period in the total mobile phone market. This growth will continue at a CAGR of 19.5 percent through to 2014, at which point smartphones will account for 29 percent of the total global handset market.
Symbian remains market leader, Google Android rising star
In 2008 Symbian OS represented 58 percent of the smartphone market. Its position as market leader has been achieved by Nokia's championing of the platform and its widespread use within the player's device portfolio. Following Nokia's acquisition of Symbian and creation of the Symbian Foundation, Nokia will continue to be an active supporter and drive the platform deeper into its portfolio.
Ovum expects Symbian OS market share will drop to 43 percent by 2014 due to rapid adoption of new platforms such as Android, although it will maintain its market leadership. From a standing start in 2008, adoption of Android will be rapid and we expect Android shipments to reach 72 million units by 2014, representing 18 percent of the market and overtaking shipments of Windows Mobile.
Android shipments will be driven by adoption by all tier-one OEMs (except Nokia) and an active developer community.
Smartphones are dead! Long live managed device platforms
While smartphones are set to proliferate over the next three to five years, the category itself will become less relevant as attention shifts towards distinguishing those devices that are actively managed by OEMs, MNOs, web companies and retailers from those that aren't.
Consumers will increasingly make buying decisions based not on a device's potential to support advanced capabilities but 'crucially' on the vendor managing their data and services on the device.
The ability to deliver a tightly integrated end-to-end service proposition including content and applications directly to consumers was pioneered by Apple and Google. Ovum describes this approach as a managed device platform (MDP), as examined in our report: "Of iPhones and Androids: redefining the smartphone and other devices."
The adoption of the MDP model by Nokia, Google, Microsoft, Sony and other major vendors will drive the adoption of those smartphone software platforms that are backed by these companies.
'Unmanaged' smartphones will still have a place in the market. However, they will appeal mainly to users who do not wish to be tied to a particular vendor's offering or are content with a more basic service package. Smartphone platforms that do not have the backing of major vendors will not ship in significant volume in five years' time.
Defining the smartphone market
Ovum defines a smartphone based on its software platform. Therefore, Ovum considers the following to be smartphone platforms: Symbian OS, Windows Mobile, Android, OS X, BlackBerry OS, Palm OS, Web OS and LiMo.
Smartphone shipments will reach 406.7 million by 2014
UK: During 2008, in a first for the mobile industry, consumer demand for third-party applications started driving both handset sales and revenues for developers and OEMs.
Apple's success with the App Store has prompted other players to focus on devices that can enable third-party developers to easily bring applications and services to mobile phones. Subsequently the global economic downturn has stimulated a renewed focus on smartphones.
The collapse of the market for mid-tier handsets in 2009 is polarising the handset market, with vendors and mobile operators focusing on two types of handset: those targeting the low-end and high-end segments. The end result is a quickening of the replacement of 2G in favour of the high-end 3G handsets, and greater volumes of smartphones.
Ovum expects that these factors will see smartphone shipments grow by 18.7 percent between 2008 and 2009 despite the overall decline during the same period in the total mobile phone market. This growth will continue at a CAGR of 19.5 percent through to 2014, at which point smartphones will account for 29 percent of the total global handset market.
Symbian remains market leader, Google Android rising star
In 2008 Symbian OS represented 58 percent of the smartphone market. Its position as market leader has been achieved by Nokia's championing of the platform and its widespread use within the player's device portfolio. Following Nokia's acquisition of Symbian and creation of the Symbian Foundation, Nokia will continue to be an active supporter and drive the platform deeper into its portfolio.
Ovum expects Symbian OS market share will drop to 43 percent by 2014 due to rapid adoption of new platforms such as Android, although it will maintain its market leadership. From a standing start in 2008, adoption of Android will be rapid and we expect Android shipments to reach 72 million units by 2014, representing 18 percent of the market and overtaking shipments of Windows Mobile.
Android shipments will be driven by adoption by all tier-one OEMs (except Nokia) and an active developer community.
Smartphones are dead! Long live managed device platforms
While smartphones are set to proliferate over the next three to five years, the category itself will become less relevant as attention shifts towards distinguishing those devices that are actively managed by OEMs, MNOs, web companies and retailers from those that aren't.
Consumers will increasingly make buying decisions based not on a device's potential to support advanced capabilities but 'crucially' on the vendor managing their data and services on the device.
The ability to deliver a tightly integrated end-to-end service proposition including content and applications directly to consumers was pioneered by Apple and Google. Ovum describes this approach as a managed device platform (MDP), as examined in our report: "Of iPhones and Androids: redefining the smartphone and other devices."
The adoption of the MDP model by Nokia, Google, Microsoft, Sony and other major vendors will drive the adoption of those smartphone software platforms that are backed by these companies.
'Unmanaged' smartphones will still have a place in the market. However, they will appeal mainly to users who do not wish to be tied to a particular vendor's offering or are content with a more basic service package. Smartphone platforms that do not have the backing of major vendors will not ship in significant volume in five years' time.
Defining the smartphone market
Ovum defines a smartphone based on its software platform. Therefore, Ovum considers the following to be smartphone platforms: Symbian OS, Windows Mobile, Android, OS X, BlackBerry OS, Palm OS, Web OS and LiMo.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
ThinkFree unveils first complete Office productivity suite for Android-based mobile devices
SANTA CLARA, USA: ThinkFree, Inc., a leader in next-generation office productivity solutions, announced ThinkFree Mobile for Android, the first complete office productivity suite offering for Android-based mobile devices. A demo can be seen at the upcoming COMPUTEX trade show taking place June 2-6 in Taipei, Taiwan where ThinkFree will be showing its mobile office product line-up with ARM.
Android is a software platform for mobile devices that includes an operating system, middleware and key applications. ThinkFree Mobile for Android brings several firsts to the platform. With ThinkFree, users can create, view and edit not only Microsoft Word documents and Excel spreadsheets, but also PowerPoint presentations - a feature that has not been available before with any other solution.
The new software also features support for drawing objects - another first on the Android platform. ThinkFree furthermore offers the best roundtrip Microsoft Office compatibility of any alternate office suite on any platform and comes with 1GB of free, reliable and secure online document storage.
"ThinkFree Mobile for Android is bringing a new level of choice to smartphones by offering a mobile office solution that satisfies the growing demand for mobility and 24/7 access to your documents," said Kerry McGuire, Director of Software Alliances, ARM. "ThinkFree has brought an innovative approach to the mobile office suite that enables a consistent office experience across both smartphones and netbooks. We are pleased to have their continued support as part of the ARM community."
ThinkFree Mobile for Android consists of ThinkFree Write for word processing, ThinkFree Calc for spreadsheets and ThinkFree Show for presentations. It features seamless integration with ThinkFree Online, ThinkFree's already existing online service for collaboration and synchronization across all documents. A file manager enables easy access to documents stored on expansion cards through a built-in file browser. With the commercial launch of Android for netbooks, ThinkFree plans to roll out an optimized version of its software.
"With ThinkFree Mobile for Android, we manifest our leadership position in the online office suite and Web collaboration space," said Su Jin Kim, CEO of ThinkFree, "After the success of our ThinkFree Mobile Netbook Edition, we are thrilled to have partnered with ARM for the Android platform."
Android is a software platform for mobile devices that includes an operating system, middleware and key applications. ThinkFree Mobile for Android brings several firsts to the platform. With ThinkFree, users can create, view and edit not only Microsoft Word documents and Excel spreadsheets, but also PowerPoint presentations - a feature that has not been available before with any other solution.
The new software also features support for drawing objects - another first on the Android platform. ThinkFree furthermore offers the best roundtrip Microsoft Office compatibility of any alternate office suite on any platform and comes with 1GB of free, reliable and secure online document storage.
"ThinkFree Mobile for Android is bringing a new level of choice to smartphones by offering a mobile office solution that satisfies the growing demand for mobility and 24/7 access to your documents," said Kerry McGuire, Director of Software Alliances, ARM. "ThinkFree has brought an innovative approach to the mobile office suite that enables a consistent office experience across both smartphones and netbooks. We are pleased to have their continued support as part of the ARM community."
ThinkFree Mobile for Android consists of ThinkFree Write for word processing, ThinkFree Calc for spreadsheets and ThinkFree Show for presentations. It features seamless integration with ThinkFree Online, ThinkFree's already existing online service for collaboration and synchronization across all documents. A file manager enables easy access to documents stored on expansion cards through a built-in file browser. With the commercial launch of Android for netbooks, ThinkFree plans to roll out an optimized version of its software.
"With ThinkFree Mobile for Android, we manifest our leadership position in the online office suite and Web collaboration space," said Su Jin Kim, CEO of ThinkFree, "After the success of our ThinkFree Mobile Netbook Edition, we are thrilled to have partnered with ARM for the Android platform."
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Google Latitude: Operator business case heading south?
UK: Comment from Jeremy Green, Practice Leader & Michele Mackenzie, Principal Analyst, Ovum.
Google is stealing a march on operators
Location has long been touted as one of the key enablers which should be core to both the operator’s own direct-to-consumer (D2C) service offering and more recently as a network enabler which operators could open up to third-party application developers and preferably at a premium.
However, operators have dragged their heels for so long that device vendors such as Nokia and Internet players such as Google have stolen a march on the operators, launching their own location-enabled applications and building location platforms which allow them to enable third-party applications and build developer communities to serve their own user bases.
Google is in the process of building a location network across its markets and this is largely independent of the operator’s cooperation (although it is dependent on the operator refraining from disruptive action).
For most operators, it is too late to develop location awareness as a fully fledged premium service. And it was becoming increasingly unlikely that they would succeed in offering location as an enabler to third parties.
But Vodafone’s recent announcement that it will open up its network APIs to the developer community puts Vodafone at least back in the picture. Vodafone is one of the few operators with the size and scale to take on some of the other contenders. But is it too little too late?
Neither side ready for a fight
Google’s location platform uses a number of data criteria and location solutions in order to pinpoint the user’s location. It takes the device’s dynamically assigned IP address in order to determine the user’s country information.
It then identifies the cell tower which is serving the user in order to determine further the location of the user; this is done by the Google Maps application itself, so that the device can calculate its own location without any further information from or calculations by the operator’s network.
Google has built its own database of cell tower locations and cell IDs, information which is collected through active ‘war driving’ and its mapping application and fed back to its database. Google Latitude also uses the network of WiFi access point locations in order to determine the user’s location, and lastly the GPS functionality on the mobile phone.
Google’s service is to some extent dependent therefore on the operator’s infrastructure. At present, this would not be an issue for most operators who are seeking to drive further data traffic on their networks and Google’s applications are contributing to this.
But for those operators who are providing their own location services either as a D2C offering or business-to-business (B2B) offering, Google may well be undermining their business case.
The G1 Android phone offered in the UK by T-Mobile does not support Google Latitude, even though Google Maps is available, and G1s offered by other operators do support Latitude. This is allegedly because T-Mobile UK has requested that the feature is disabled, citing privacy concerns. This suggests that the operators are not prepared to go down without a fight, and that Google is still sensitive to operator concerns.
Advertising is key to success again
In line with its core business model of advertising, Google is likely to focus on monetising Latitude through advertising revenues, mainly local advertising. It may look at how it could generate revenues from selling contextual information on its users, presumably to advertisers. This will have to be done on an aggregated level in order not to compromise the data privacy of its users.
We believe that Google will make its location tools, including APIs, available free of charge to developers on the Google platform in order to drive usage of the Web.
These developers will therefore be able to query Google’s database of users’ locations, subject to the privacy constraints set by the users themselves and stored on the platform; we think that Google does not plan to charge for this.
It’s worth noting, though, that Google’s location server (which makes this possible) is not a Gateway Mobile Location Centre in the sense intended in the architecture for location services standardised by the mobile industry almost ten years ago. This too may be an indication that the operator-centric model for mobile location services is past its sell-by date.
Google is stealing a march on operators
Location has long been touted as one of the key enablers which should be core to both the operator’s own direct-to-consumer (D2C) service offering and more recently as a network enabler which operators could open up to third-party application developers and preferably at a premium.
However, operators have dragged their heels for so long that device vendors such as Nokia and Internet players such as Google have stolen a march on the operators, launching their own location-enabled applications and building location platforms which allow them to enable third-party applications and build developer communities to serve their own user bases.
Google is in the process of building a location network across its markets and this is largely independent of the operator’s cooperation (although it is dependent on the operator refraining from disruptive action).
For most operators, it is too late to develop location awareness as a fully fledged premium service. And it was becoming increasingly unlikely that they would succeed in offering location as an enabler to third parties.
But Vodafone’s recent announcement that it will open up its network APIs to the developer community puts Vodafone at least back in the picture. Vodafone is one of the few operators with the size and scale to take on some of the other contenders. But is it too little too late?
Neither side ready for a fight
Google’s location platform uses a number of data criteria and location solutions in order to pinpoint the user’s location. It takes the device’s dynamically assigned IP address in order to determine the user’s country information.
It then identifies the cell tower which is serving the user in order to determine further the location of the user; this is done by the Google Maps application itself, so that the device can calculate its own location without any further information from or calculations by the operator’s network.
Google has built its own database of cell tower locations and cell IDs, information which is collected through active ‘war driving’ and its mapping application and fed back to its database. Google Latitude also uses the network of WiFi access point locations in order to determine the user’s location, and lastly the GPS functionality on the mobile phone.
Google’s service is to some extent dependent therefore on the operator’s infrastructure. At present, this would not be an issue for most operators who are seeking to drive further data traffic on their networks and Google’s applications are contributing to this.
But for those operators who are providing their own location services either as a D2C offering or business-to-business (B2B) offering, Google may well be undermining their business case.
The G1 Android phone offered in the UK by T-Mobile does not support Google Latitude, even though Google Maps is available, and G1s offered by other operators do support Latitude. This is allegedly because T-Mobile UK has requested that the feature is disabled, citing privacy concerns. This suggests that the operators are not prepared to go down without a fight, and that Google is still sensitive to operator concerns.
Advertising is key to success again
In line with its core business model of advertising, Google is likely to focus on monetising Latitude through advertising revenues, mainly local advertising. It may look at how it could generate revenues from selling contextual information on its users, presumably to advertisers. This will have to be done on an aggregated level in order not to compromise the data privacy of its users.
We believe that Google will make its location tools, including APIs, available free of charge to developers on the Google platform in order to drive usage of the Web.
These developers will therefore be able to query Google’s database of users’ locations, subject to the privacy constraints set by the users themselves and stored on the platform; we think that Google does not plan to charge for this.
It’s worth noting, though, that Google’s location server (which makes this possible) is not a Gateway Mobile Location Centre in the sense intended in the architecture for location services standardised by the mobile industry almost ten years ago. This too may be an indication that the operator-centric model for mobile location services is past its sell-by date.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Android smartphone shipments to grow 900 percent in 2009
BOSTON, USA: According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, global Android smartphone shipments will grow 900 percent in 2009. Healthy support from operators, vendors and developers is driving adoption. Apple iPhone OS will be the next fastest-growing smartphone operating system in 2009, with a 79 percent growth rate.
Tom Kang, Senior Analyst at Strategy Analytics, said: "We forecast global Android smartphone shipments to grow an impressive 900 percent annually during 2009. The Android mobile operating system from Google gained early traction in the United States in the second half of 2008 and it is gradually spreading its presence into Europe and Asia during 2009. Android is expanding from a low base and it is consequently outgrowing the iPhone OS from Apple, which we estimate will grow at a relatively lower 79 percent annually in 2009."
Neil Mawston, Director at Strategy Analytics, added: "Android has fast been winning healthy support among operators, vendors and developers. A relatively low-cost licensing model, its semi-open-source structure and Google's support for cloud services have encouraged companies such as HTC, Motorola, Samsung, T Mobile, Vodafone and others to support the Android operating system. Android is now in a good position to become a top-tier player in smartphones over the next two to three years."
Tom Kang, Senior Analyst at Strategy Analytics, said: "We forecast global Android smartphone shipments to grow an impressive 900 percent annually during 2009. The Android mobile operating system from Google gained early traction in the United States in the second half of 2008 and it is gradually spreading its presence into Europe and Asia during 2009. Android is expanding from a low base and it is consequently outgrowing the iPhone OS from Apple, which we estimate will grow at a relatively lower 79 percent annually in 2009."
Neil Mawston, Director at Strategy Analytics, added: "Android has fast been winning healthy support among operators, vendors and developers. A relatively low-cost licensing model, its semi-open-source structure and Google's support for cloud services have encouraged companies such as HTC, Motorola, Samsung, T Mobile, Vodafone and others to support the Android operating system. Android is now in a good position to become a top-tier player in smartphones over the next two to three years."
Monday, April 27, 2009
Samsung I7500: its first Android-powered mobile phone
SEOUL, KOREA: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a leading mobile phone provider, today unveiled the I7500, its first Android-powered mobile phone. With a launch of I7500, Samsung became the first company among the global top three mobile phone manufacturers to unveil an Android-powered phone.
“Samsung is among the earliest members of the Open Handset Alliance and has been actively moving forward to introduce the most innovative Android mobile phone,” said JK Shin, Executive Vice President and Head of Mobile Communication Division in Samsung Electronics. “With Samsung’s accumulated technology leadership in mobile phone industry and our consistent strategy to support every existing operating system, I believe that Samsung provides the better choices and benefits to our consumers” he added.
The Samsung I7500 is a cutting-edge smartphone, featuring a 3.2” AMOLED full touch screen and 7.2Mbps HSDPA and WiFi connectivity, giving users access to Google™ Mobile services and full web browsing at blazing speeds.
The Samsung I7500 offers users access to the full suite of Google services, including Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Google Calendar, and Google Talk. The integrated GPS receiver enables the comprehensive use of Google Maps features, such as My Location, Google Latitude, Street View, local search and detailed route description. Hundreds of other applications are available in Android Market. For example, the application Wikitude, a mobile travel guide, allows consumers to access details of unknown sights via location-based Wikipedia articles.
Based on Samsung’s proven product leadership, Samsung I7500 comes with latest multimedia features. The large and vivid 3.2“AMOLED display ensures the brilliant representation of multimedia content and enjoyable full touch mobile experience. Along with supporting a 5-megapixel camera and various multimedia codec formats, the I7500 also provides a long enough battery life (1500mAh) and generous memory capacity up to 40GB (Internal memory: 8GB, External memory: Up to 32GB) to enjoy all the applications and multimedia content. The phone also boasts its slim and compact design with mere 11.9mm thickness.
The Samsung I7500 will be available in major European countries from June, 2009.
“Samsung is among the earliest members of the Open Handset Alliance and has been actively moving forward to introduce the most innovative Android mobile phone,” said JK Shin, Executive Vice President and Head of Mobile Communication Division in Samsung Electronics. “With Samsung’s accumulated technology leadership in mobile phone industry and our consistent strategy to support every existing operating system, I believe that Samsung provides the better choices and benefits to our consumers” he added.The Samsung I7500 is a cutting-edge smartphone, featuring a 3.2” AMOLED full touch screen and 7.2Mbps HSDPA and WiFi connectivity, giving users access to Google™ Mobile services and full web browsing at blazing speeds.
The Samsung I7500 offers users access to the full suite of Google services, including Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Google Calendar, and Google Talk. The integrated GPS receiver enables the comprehensive use of Google Maps features, such as My Location, Google Latitude, Street View, local search and detailed route description. Hundreds of other applications are available in Android Market. For example, the application Wikitude, a mobile travel guide, allows consumers to access details of unknown sights via location-based Wikipedia articles.
Based on Samsung’s proven product leadership, Samsung I7500 comes with latest multimedia features. The large and vivid 3.2“AMOLED display ensures the brilliant representation of multimedia content and enjoyable full touch mobile experience. Along with supporting a 5-megapixel camera and various multimedia codec formats, the I7500 also provides a long enough battery life (1500mAh) and generous memory capacity up to 40GB (Internal memory: 8GB, External memory: Up to 32GB) to enjoy all the applications and multimedia content. The phone also boasts its slim and compact design with mere 11.9mm thickness.
The Samsung I7500 will be available in major European countries from June, 2009.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Google phone beckons as industry leaders announce open platform for mobile devices
Is the Google Phone finally going to see the light of the day? Well, the following release (below) has all the makings of a mega telecom happening. Read on!
A broad alliance of leading technology and wireless companies today joined forces 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.
According to Engadget Mobile, Google will be holding a conference call at noon eastern (November 5) to unveil the details of its long-rumored Android mobile operating system. Joining CEO Eric Schmidt will be other members of the 34-member Open Handset Alliance, including the chief executives of Deutche Telekom, HTC, Qualcomm, and Motorola. So keep watching this space!
According to the release, 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.
With nearly 3 billion users worldwide, the mobile phone has become the most personal and ubiquitous communications device. However, the lack of a collaborative effort has made it a challenge for developers, wireless operators and handset manufacturers to respond as quickly as possible to the ever-changing needs of savvy mobile consumers. Through Android, developers, wireless operators and handset manufacturers will be better positioned to bring to market innovative new products faster and at a much lower cost. The end result will be an unprecedented mobile platform that will enable wireless operators and manufacturers to give their customers better, more personal and more flexible mobile experiences.
Fully integrated Android platform
Thirty-four companies have formed the Open Handset Alliance, which aims to develop technologies that will significantly lower the cost of developing and distributing mobile devices and services. The Android platform is the first step in this direction -- a fully integrated mobile "software stack" that consists of an operating system, middleware, user-friendly interface and applications. 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.
Android holds the promise of unprecedented benefits for consumers, developers and manufacturers of mobile services and devices. Handset manufacturers and wireless operators will be free to customize Android in order to bring to market innovative new products faster and at a much lower cost. Developers will have complete access to handset capabilities and tools that will enable them to build more compelling and user-friendly services, bringing the Internet developer model to the mobile space. And consumers worldwide will have access to less expensive mobile devices that feature more compelling services, rich Internet applications and easier-to-use interfaces -- ultimately creating a superior mobile experience.
Open Software, Open Device, Open Ecosystem
"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," said Google Chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt. "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."
"As a founding member of the Open Handset Alliance, T-Mobile is committed to innovation and fostering an open platform for wireless services to meet the rapidly evolving and emerging needs of wireless customers," said René Obermann, Chief Executive Officer, Deutsche Telekom, parent company of T-Mobile. "Google has been an established partner for T-Mobile’s groundbreaking approach to bring the mobile open Internet to the mass market. We see the Android platform as an exciting opportunity to launch robust wireless Internet and Web 2.0 services for T-Mobile customers in the US and Europe in 2008."
"HTC's trademark on the mobile industry has been its ability to drive cutting-edge innovation into a wide variety of mobile devices to create the perfect match for individuals," said Peter Chou, Chief Executive Officer, HTC Corp. "Our participation in the Open Handset Alliance and integration of the Android platform in the second half of 2008 enables us to expand our device portfolio into a new category of connected mobile phones that will change the complexion of the mobile industry and re-create user expectations of the mobile phone experience."
"The convergence of the wireless and Internet industries is creating new partnerships, evolving business models and driving innovation," said Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, Chief Executive Officer of Qualcomm. "We are extremely pleased to be participating in the Open Handset Alliance, whose mission is to help build the leading open-source application platform for 3G networks. The proliferation of open-standards-based handsets will provide an exciting new opportunity to create compelling services and devices. As a result, we are committing research and development resources to enable the Android platform and to create the best always-connected consumer experience on our chipsets."
"Motorola has long been an advocate of open software for mobile platforms. Today, we're excited to continue this support by joining Google and others in the announcement of the Open Handset Alliance and Android platform. Motorola plans to leverage the Android platform to enable seamless, connected services and rich consumer experiences in future Motorola products," said Ed Zander, Chairman and CEO of Motorola, Inc.
Open Handset Alliance Founding Members
Here are the founding members of the Open Handset Alliance:
Aplix (www.aplixcorp.com), Ascender Corporation (www.ascendercorp.com), Audience (www.audience.com), Broadcom (www.broadcom.com), China Mobile (www.chinamobile.com), eBay (www.ebay.com), Esmertec (www.esmertec.com), Google (www.google.com), HTC (www.htc.com), Intel (www.intel.com), KDDI (www.kddi.com), LivingImage (www.livingimage.jp), LG (www.lge.com), Marvell (www.marvell.com), Motorola (www.motorola.com), NMS Communications (www.nmscommunications.com), Noser (www.noser.com), NTT DoCoMo, Inc. (www.nttdocomo.com), Nuance (www.nuance.com), Nvidia (www.nvidia.com), PacketVideo (www.packetvideo.com), Qualcomm (www.qualcomm.com), Samsung (www.samsung.com), SiRF (www.sirf.com), SkyPop (www.skypop.com), SONiVOX (www.sonivoxrocks.com), Sprint Nextel (www.sprint.com), Synaptics (www.synaptics.com), TAT - The Astonishing Tribe (www.tat.se), Telecom Italia (www.telecomitalia.com), Telefónica (www.telefonica.es), Texas Instruments (www.ti.com), T-Mobile (www.t-mobile.com), Wind River (www.windriver.com).
A broad alliance of leading technology and wireless companies today joined forces 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.
According to Engadget Mobile, Google will be holding a conference call at noon eastern (November 5) to unveil the details of its long-rumored Android mobile operating system. Joining CEO Eric Schmidt will be other members of the 34-member Open Handset Alliance, including the chief executives of Deutche Telekom, HTC, Qualcomm, and Motorola. So keep watching this space!
According to the release, 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.
With nearly 3 billion users worldwide, the mobile phone has become the most personal and ubiquitous communications device. However, the lack of a collaborative effort has made it a challenge for developers, wireless operators and handset manufacturers to respond as quickly as possible to the ever-changing needs of savvy mobile consumers. Through Android, developers, wireless operators and handset manufacturers will be better positioned to bring to market innovative new products faster and at a much lower cost. The end result will be an unprecedented mobile platform that will enable wireless operators and manufacturers to give their customers better, more personal and more flexible mobile experiences.
Fully integrated Android platform
Thirty-four companies have formed the Open Handset Alliance, which aims to develop technologies that will significantly lower the cost of developing and distributing mobile devices and services. The Android platform is the first step in this direction -- a fully integrated mobile "software stack" that consists of an operating system, middleware, user-friendly interface and applications. 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.
Android holds the promise of unprecedented benefits for consumers, developers and manufacturers of mobile services and devices. Handset manufacturers and wireless operators will be free to customize Android in order to bring to market innovative new products faster and at a much lower cost. Developers will have complete access to handset capabilities and tools that will enable them to build more compelling and user-friendly services, bringing the Internet developer model to the mobile space. And consumers worldwide will have access to less expensive mobile devices that feature more compelling services, rich Internet applications and easier-to-use interfaces -- ultimately creating a superior mobile experience.
Open Software, Open Device, Open Ecosystem
"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," said Google Chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt. "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."
"As a founding member of the Open Handset Alliance, T-Mobile is committed to innovation and fostering an open platform for wireless services to meet the rapidly evolving and emerging needs of wireless customers," said René Obermann, Chief Executive Officer, Deutsche Telekom, parent company of T-Mobile. "Google has been an established partner for T-Mobile’s groundbreaking approach to bring the mobile open Internet to the mass market. We see the Android platform as an exciting opportunity to launch robust wireless Internet and Web 2.0 services for T-Mobile customers in the US and Europe in 2008."
"HTC's trademark on the mobile industry has been its ability to drive cutting-edge innovation into a wide variety of mobile devices to create the perfect match for individuals," said Peter Chou, Chief Executive Officer, HTC Corp. "Our participation in the Open Handset Alliance and integration of the Android platform in the second half of 2008 enables us to expand our device portfolio into a new category of connected mobile phones that will change the complexion of the mobile industry and re-create user expectations of the mobile phone experience."
"The convergence of the wireless and Internet industries is creating new partnerships, evolving business models and driving innovation," said Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, Chief Executive Officer of Qualcomm. "We are extremely pleased to be participating in the Open Handset Alliance, whose mission is to help build the leading open-source application platform for 3G networks. The proliferation of open-standards-based handsets will provide an exciting new opportunity to create compelling services and devices. As a result, we are committing research and development resources to enable the Android platform and to create the best always-connected consumer experience on our chipsets."
"Motorola has long been an advocate of open software for mobile platforms. Today, we're excited to continue this support by joining Google and others in the announcement of the Open Handset Alliance and Android platform. Motorola plans to leverage the Android platform to enable seamless, connected services and rich consumer experiences in future Motorola products," said Ed Zander, Chairman and CEO of Motorola, Inc.
Open Handset Alliance Founding Members
Here are the founding members of the Open Handset Alliance:
Aplix (www.aplixcorp.com), Ascender Corporation (www.ascendercorp.com), Audience (www.audience.com), Broadcom (www.broadcom.com), China Mobile (www.chinamobile.com), eBay (www.ebay.com), Esmertec (www.esmertec.com), Google (www.google.com), HTC (www.htc.com), Intel (www.intel.com), KDDI (www.kddi.com), LivingImage (www.livingimage.jp), LG (www.lge.com), Marvell (www.marvell.com), Motorola (www.motorola.com), NMS Communications (www.nmscommunications.com), Noser (www.noser.com), NTT DoCoMo, Inc. (www.nttdocomo.com), Nuance (www.nuance.com), Nvidia (www.nvidia.com), PacketVideo (www.packetvideo.com), Qualcomm (www.qualcomm.com), Samsung (www.samsung.com), SiRF (www.sirf.com), SkyPop (www.skypop.com), SONiVOX (www.sonivoxrocks.com), Sprint Nextel (www.sprint.com), Synaptics (www.synaptics.com), TAT - The Astonishing Tribe (www.tat.se), Telecom Italia (www.telecomitalia.com), Telefónica (www.telefonica.es), Texas Instruments (www.ti.com), T-Mobile (www.t-mobile.com), Wind River (www.windriver.com).
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