Around 8 am PST today Google finally put the tiresome rumors to rest… there is NO GPHONE. Thank the gods! All the speculation over the GPhone was silly and getting sillier. It never made sense for Google to create its own phone so it was a real relief when they finally announced Google’s development of Android with the cooperation of the Open Handset Alliance.
Why No GPhone?
Google’s press release: “… the Open Handset Alliance and Android — is more significant and ambitious than a single phone… we hope Android will be the foundation for many new phones and will create an entirely new mobile experience for users, with new applications and new capabilities we can’t imagine today.”
What is Android?
Google’s press release: “Android is the first truly open and comprehensive platform for mobile devices. It includes an operating system, user-interface and applications — all of the software to run a mobile phone, but without the proprietary obstacles that have hindered mobile innovation. We have developed Android in cooperation with the Open Handset Alliance, which consists of more than 30 technology and mobile leaders including Motorola, Qualcomm, HTC and T-Mobile.”
From the Open Handset Alliance: “Android was built from the ground-up to enable developers to create compelling mobile applications that take full advantage of all a handset has to offer. It is built to be truly open. For example, an application could call upon any of the phone’s core functionality such as making calls, sending text messages, or using the camera, allowing developers to create richer and more cohesive experiences for users. Android is built on the open Linux Kernel.”
Will Google Mobile Fall to the Wayside?
Within the press release Google makes it very clear that Android is only one part of their mobile initiative. As a result, they will continue to ensure that they build and diversify their other mobile concepts to allow for other mobile users that may never touch an Android-based phone.
When will Android be Available?
They are ‘expecting’ Android to be released in the last half of 2008 on select phones.
Want to Know More about Android? Watch the Video Below: