BANGALORE: The announcement on Tuesday that some 33 players in the mobile phone business had joined Google’s initiative to create a new software platform for Internet-friendly phones will send ripples through the India-based development operations of many of these companies.
The newly formed Open Handset Alliance will support Google’s Android platform for mobile devices — the name derives from the Net search leader’s 2005 acquisition, a mobile software startup.
The new platform — jargon for the software that will fuel the phone and its various functions — has the support of handset makers like Motorola and Samsung; mobile service providers like Sprint, NTT Docomo and China Telecom; chip makers like Intel and Texas Instruments; and pure Internet players like ebay and Skype.
It is almost certain that they are not aiming to create yet another basic phone for the unconnected millions of the world.
Google’s leadership signals that the alliance will target Net-enabled smart phones where the asking price is closer to $200 rather than $ 20.
Otherwise why should all these Net players join in? The announcement also sets at rest persistent rumours of Google launching a G-Phone to answer Apple’s i-Phone challenge.
Clearly the number one search player is not about to get into the device business. India’s position as a cost effective R&D destination will ensure that whoever loses in all this — the alliance will challenge existing platforms from Microsoft, Nokia, Research in Motion, Palm and others — India will win. Why? because many of these Handset Alliance members including Intel, Texas Instruments, Qualcomm, Motorola, nVidia, Sirf, WindRiver, and Google itself, have big development teams based in India. Creating compelling applications for the new Android platform will keep these teams busy in the coming months.
Source: http://www.hindu.com/2007/11/07/stories/2007110757561800.htm
0 comments:
Post a Comment