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Android and The Open Handset Alliance
For many users of mobile devices, the idea of an
open platform is like a dream come true. It comes as no surprise then that many
have reacted positively to
Google's announcement about Android, a new open platform for mobile
devices. Developments behind Android are being spearheaded by the
Open Handset Alliance, a
group of 34 companies including Intel, Qualcomm, Motorola, Sprint and LG among
others. How the Open Handset Alliance operates in conjunction with Google and
the precise role each company will play with respect to Android is still not
fully clear.
What is interesting to note is that many companies that support WiMAX also seem
to be involved in the Open Handset Alliance. This is no coincidence. The
connection speeds associated with WiMAX make it an appealing technology for
those who are interested in increasing the quality of mobile communications.
Along a similar vein, Android would allow mobile devices to function more like
modern PCs. Users would have the ability to download and customize their mobile
devices in ways that were previously impossible. Just as WiMAX aims to make
mobile connectivity meet the standards of wired connectivity one would
experience on a home or office computer, Android aims to provide freedoms that
previously did not translate over from PC to mobile device. Both supporters of
WiMAX and the Open Handset Alliance seem to have a common goal: enhancing users’
overall mobile internet experience. Developments around both these technologies
are timely, and may eventually overlap given the right circumstances.
Ari Zoldan
Launch 3 Communications
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