More than half the members of the OHA are handset manufacturers, such as Samsung, Motorola, HTC, and LG, and semiconductor companies, such as Intel,Texas Instruments, NVIDIA, and Qualcomm.These companies are helping design the first generation of Android handsets. The first shipping Android handset the T-Mobile G1 was developed by handset manufacturer HTC with service provided by T-Mobile. It was released in October 2008. Many other Android handsets are slated for 2009 and early 2010.
When users have Android handsets, they need those killer apps, right? Google has led the pack, developing Android applications, many of which, like the email client and Web browser, are core features of the platform. OHA members, such as eBay, are also working on Android application integration with their online auctions. The first Android Developer Challenge received 1,788 submissions all newly developed Android games, productivity helpers, and a slew of Location-Based Services (LBS). We also saw humanitarian, social networking, and mash-up apps. Many of these applications have debuted with users through the Android Market Google’s software distribution mechanism for Android.
Mobile Operators: Delivering the Android Experience
After you have the phones, you have to get them out to the users. Mobile operators from Asia, North America, Europe, and Latin America have joined the OHA, ensuring a market for the Android movement.With almost half a billion subscribers, telephony giant China Mobile is a founding member of the alliance. Other operators have signed on as well.
Android’s open platform has been embraced by much of the mobile development community extending far beyond the members of the OHA. As Android phones and applications become more readily available, many in the tech community anticipate other mobile operators and handset manufacturers will jump on the chance to sell Android phones to their subscribers, especially given the cost benefits compared to proprietary platforms. Already, North American operators, such as Verizon Wireless and AT&T, have shown an interest in Android, and T-Mobile already provides handsets. If the open standard of the Android platform results in reduced operator costs in licensing and royalties, we could see a migration to open handsets from proprietary platforms such as BREW,Windows Mobile, and even the Apple iPhone.Android is well suited to fill this demand.
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