Today software was unveiled by Google that could power mobile phones in the future, focused around the growing demand for mobile search.
The software is an open operating system called Android and is part of an Open Handset Alliance that is made up of 33 partners whose aims are to produce cheaper phones that offer a better mobile experience. Based on Linux and therefore open source, Google has built a series of tools to power the next generation of mobile phone.
The key selling point about Android is the open source nature of the operating system and therefore breaks away from the current proprietorial platforms currently used in mobiles such as Windows Mobile, RIM, Symbian and Palm. The open source alternative is due to be unveiled on the 12th November, however it is unlikely that handsets will be available until late 2008.
The focus of the software is its potential to provide a greater mobile internet experience where current models lack innovation. No doubt an advanced mobile browser will be released which currently restricts most mobile web experiences along with handset screen resolution. The wispers are of increased integration, where video, data sharing, and social networking will all be a more pleasurable experience on handsets that implement the Android operating system.
With these developments it remains to be seen whether the hype surrounding Android is anything more than just a PR exercise, as although Google has secured an impressive array of partners, and nobody doubts that open source will play a big part in the next generation mobile internet experience, none of the partners are exclusive to Android. At the current time mobile phone developers are still supporting a range of different platforms.
However successful Android ends up being Google has certainly made a statement about its intentions to become involved in the mobile market. After all the potential market is huge, there are currently more people with mobile phone access than there are desktop PCs with an internet connection, and as a result the mobile web provides the Google with the ideal opportunity it doesn’t want to miss.
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