With billions of users around the world, and the number keeps growing, mobile phones have become personal and ubiquitous communications devices. And it continues to evolve as newer technologies converge on this platform. To unlock its full potential, some 34 companies have joined forces to form an Open Handset Alliance (OHA). Motivated by search giant Google Inc., the alliance spans across leading technology and wireless companies worldwide. And some other key names include Broadcom, HTC, Intel, Marvel, Motorola, NTT DoCoMo, Qualcomm, SiRF, Texas Instuments, T-Mobile, and Wind River.

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The OHA alliance aims to develop technologies that will significantly lower the cost of developing and distributing mobile devices and services with unprecedented openness and flexibility.

The Android platform is the first step in this direction -- a fully integrated mobile "software stack" that consists of an operating system, middleware, user-friendly interface and applications. Consumers should expect the first phones based on Android to be available in the second half of 2008.

It is a complete mobile platform built on the Linux 2.6 kernel with a robust operating system, a comprehensive set of libraries, a rich multimedia user interface, and a complete set of phone applications, said OHA. The Android platform also includes the Dalvik virtual machine to maximize application performance, portability, and security. According to OHA, the entire platform will be made available under the very liberal, developer-friendly Apache v2 open-source license in 2008.

As per OHA’s release, it will provide developers a new level of openness that will enable them to work more collaboratively, thereby accelerating the pace at which new and compelling mobile services are made available to consumers.

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