Open Handset Alliance signs up 14 more Android-lovers, including Sony Ericsson, ASUS and Garmin
By Paul Miller 
posted December 9th 2008 11:10AM
posted December 9th 2008 11:10AM
The Open Handset Alliance just made a major score with 14 more members: AKM Semiconductor Inc., ARM, ASUSTek Computer Inc. (previously rumored), Atheros Communications, Borqs, Ericsson, Garmin International Inc., Huawei Technologies, Omron Software Co. Ltd, Softbank Mobile Corporation, Sony Ericsson, Teleca AB, Toshiba Corporation and Vodafone. That's not quite everyone that matters, but pretty darn close. Were we to climb not-very-far onto the limb of conjecture, we might posit that Garmin might be looking at Andoid for its much-delayed nuviföne, or some sort of followup, while the emergence of an ASUS "Eee Phone" or a XPERIA X1 running Android (Sony Ericsson may very well be the biggest win here, consumer-wise) would be welcome moves from those manufacturers. We'd say at this point the holdouts are starting to stick out more than the actually OHA members, which spells good things for the industry no matter what specific hardware is the fruit of this relationship... but seriously guys, build us some more Android phones.
Am I the only one who's not cheering wildly for Android?
I much prefer an open platform over open source. I don't want to sell my soul to google on something as personal as a phone, and I certainly want to be in control of my own data usage, not to mention what programs I can have on it.
Both WinMo and Symbian gives the user control, regardless of the openness of the source-code, anyone can make programs for them without it having to be approved by the mothership, and there's no dead-mans-switch.
Wtf does that even mean? Sell your soul? Mothership? Do you have any idea of how technology works?
1) There is no requirement to use Google services on Android, it is of course geared toward that but it is optional
2) You can install any program on Android that you want
3) Anyone can develop an Android program for free
4) Android programs do not require approval from any company in any way
5) The kill switch applies to programs distributed over the Android Market only, you are perfectly free to install programs from elsewhere and neither Google nor the carrier has any control over them
I'm very relieved to hear the T-Mobile G1 is a special case then, and I'm looking forward to future phones that's not tied up to google.
As my granny always said if you don't know what you're talking about then shut up stupid !
Android was created to make it easier for google's search customers to access the web while mobile, it's completely open and does not need to include any google services.
You need to put your tinfoil helmet back on and start pissing the bed, scared shitless of an internet search company, have you never heard of terrorists ?
I'm so sorry I don't spend my time on a gadget-site freaking out about terrorism...
The question for the decade - why isn't Palm there?
I think Palm has just given up?
Because building an Android phone would require that they create a fresh product. That doesn't jive with their hip livin-in-the-90s image.
Who gives a fuck about an oxford comma?
Apparently nobody in the media.
@Matt,
Mate, kids read these, is there any need to swear...?
os is only as good as hardware will allow. who would want to see android on iphone.,? i own 4.
If rumors of the Zune Phone are true, then all handset manufactures should drop Windows Mobile immediately as Microsoft would be positioning themselves as a competitor. Just as Microsoft hung out to dry the hardware supporters of Windows Media Plays For Sure in favor of their own Zune device and Zune store, Microsoft could be setting up the handset manufactures for the same thing.
The mobile OS marketplace looks like it's shaping up to be:
1. iPhone OS
2. Android
3. RIM Blackberry OS
Symbian will devolve into being a niche player. And Windows Mobile will suffer the same fate as Palm OS, which is a bit ironic, since WinCE/Windows Mobile originally came into being as a copy of Palm.
With all the time and effort that they are expending on WinMo 7, I don't think they're going to risk competing against it.
Look at what we've heard so far:
Designed by Sidekick team
Focus on Zune features
Not Windows Mobile
I think the ZunePhone is going to be a consumer-oriented, high-end feature phone with no business features to speak of. I'd be shocked if it even had Exchange support. They are going to do everything in their power to aim WinMo and ZunePhone at complete opposite ends of the spectrum to avoid competing with their partners.
In fact, I'm kind of expecting them to take it too far and make a phone that's so dumbed down that nobody wants it. Then, as with all Microsoft products, version 2.0 will come out hugely improved and it will finally be a real contender.
Andoid=android?
Hello what happened to the iPhone killer ,.,.anyone worried about taking down the top dawg,,,?!?!?will android n 14 companies be able take down 1 single phone,,,,,!!?!?!
Then there's Linux-based phone o/s's like Motoroal's LiMo, & OpenMoko -
http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT9423084269.html