Sony Ericsson and Vodafone back Android

gallery

Phone maker Sony Ericsson and mobile network operator Vodafone have become the latest companies to back Google’s open source Android smartphone operating system.

The two companies were among a clutch of companies that also included chip maker ARM, that joined the Open Handset Alliance last night, the industry association for developers and device makers looking to work with Google and use Android on future devices.

But despite the big-name additions to the Open Handset Alliance, analysts say what matters is whether the new members introduce more Android-supported smartphones in 2009 and 2010 to edge out competitors who also use open-source software platforms for mobile phones, such as the Nokia-owned Symbian smartphone platform.

"It's great to get these folks on board...now (the Open Handset Alliance) has to make sure these licenses actually ship products," said research firm Jupiter Media's vice president of mobile strategy, Michael Gartenberg.

The first company within the new group set to introduce an Android-based mobile device is Sony Ericsson. The company said it plans to introduce an Android phone in mid-2009.

"Android is set to become a significant application framework for mobile phones," Sony Ericsson's head of mobile platforms, Robert Puskaric, said in a statement.

Asus, Toshiba and sat nav maker Garmin also pledged their support, bringing the total number of companies in the Open Handset Alliance to 47, the Alliance said. These companies join earlier members of the Alliance, such as the world's biggest chip maker Intel and mobile phone makers Motorola and Samsung.

Both Google and Apple have wooed developers to create applications for their mobile devices, but Apple keeps a tight grip on the iPhone's hardware and operating software. Google's Android is open to being changed by outside developers.

The addition of new members to the Open Handset Alliance gives Google-developed Android more heft in the battle over who will dominate the mobile phone software market in coming years. Android's biggest competitor is Symbian, which controls half of the market and was acquired by Nokia earlier this year.

Nokia contributes Symbian's assets to a not-for-profit organisation similar to the Open Handset Alliance, the Symbian Foundation. Members of the Symbian Foundation have royalty-free access to the Symbian platform.

So far, 59 companies have said they plan to join the Symbian Foundation, including Japan's third-largest wireless carrier, Softbank.

Android also competes with Microsoft's Windows Mobile operating system, which has been gaining ground in recent months.

With a range of companies jumping into the Alliance, such as portable navigation device maker Garmin, Android has the potential to be featured on devices other than mobile phones. Each mobile phone maker also can modify the Android open source software, which leaves the opportunity open for many future mobile phones.

"What's fascinating about Android is it's this malleable thing. As these phones come out from other carriers it looks and operates differently," said Greg Sterling, a web analyst with Sterling Market Intelligence. He added, "It seems more people will jump on the bandwagon."

Email to a friend

Print this page