Google Android sneezes out new Linux apps, careful it’s contagious!
By Matt Jansen
Google’s effort to build a mobile operating system based on Linux has received lots of fond buzz lately, but some think Android is more like a disease.
a la Mobile just announced a new Linux program stack compatible with Google Android that includes a “browser, phone dialer, audio player, maps, camera, games, calendar, contacts manager, calculator, tasks manager and notes.”
The company demonstrated Google Android’s framework powering those apps on HTC’s Qtek 9090 smartphone.
Though many are optimistic about Android, not everyone believes it will succeed. Symbian’s John Forsyth, a mobile telecommunications software company, described Android as “a bit like the common cold. It keeps coming round and then we go back to business” according to BBC News.
Symbian is not part of the Open Handset Alliance Google Android alliance of about 34 companies, but is a member of the Open Handset Alliance, which boasts over 30 member organizations who advocate Google Android.
Forsythe further questions Google’s commitment by explaining “It’s costly, arduous and at times a deeply unsexy job of supporting customers day by day in launching phones. That’s something there’s very little experience of in Google’s environment.”
But, with a strong alliance with companies who do have experience in the “deeply unsexy” business of maintaining mobile phone software, Google Android might have a chance.
CEO of a la Mobile, Pauline Lo Alker even admits “despite the market enthusiasm about Google Android, many questions remain concerning the technical details, and skepticism exists concerning its readiness.”
But it looks like Alker thinks a la Mobile has the cure for that symptom, “as the leader in mobile Linux, we believe it is our responsibility to take the initiative to allay the ‘mystery’ and dispel any skepticism surrounding Android by first demonstrating a complete mobile Linux system stack, including drivers, middleware, and a suite of Android-based applications running on an existing advanced smartphone manufactured by one of the premier handset vendors in the market.”
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January 15th, 2008
Uh, last time I checked Symbian was a sworn enemy of the Open Handset Alliance. Does the “Google Android alliance” even exist? I thought the Open Handset Alliance was the only alliance. Please double check these fundemental facts.
January 15th, 2008
Jdk, thanks for the correction. Symbian indeed does not get along with the Open Handset Alliance, which advocates Google Android. According to its web site (http://www.openhandsetalliance.com/index.html), the Open Handset Alliance is “committed to commercially deploy[ing] handsets and services using the Android Platform in the second half of 2008″. The article has been updated to reflect this.