Google Inc is releasing a new application for Apple Inc’s iPhone that combines the Web leader’s services such as e-mail, search and calendar into a single interface.
Google, which aims to replicate its success in desktop computer Web use on mobile phones, said on Wednesday the new application would make it easier to find, use and switch between its services on the iPhone.
The company is also working to develop new mobile technologies that are faster, easier to use, and available on more devices but Google did not give details.
Other efforts to expand in wireless include the announcement last week that Google would bid in an upcoming U.S. wireless airwaves auction to launch a wireless network, pitting it against established providers Verizon Wireless and AT&T Inc. AT&T is the exclusive U.S. carrier for iPhone.
In a separate project, Google is also developing an operating system for mobile phones known as Android and based on open source Linux technology. It has about 30 partners including carriers and phone makers supporting the project.
The iPhone, with its touch-screen and full Web browser, became the most talked about cell phone this year when it went on sale in the United States in late June. It has since launched in countries such as Germany and the United Kingdom.
Google Maps and YouTube were among the first applications available on iPhone. Apple said last month that it would allow outside developers to create software for iPhone and that it planned to make a developers kit available in February.
As expected, Google has released an “early look” version of its SDK (software development kit) for mobile phones. The Eclipse-based Android SDK lets users write Java applications that run on Dalvik, a virtual machine designed to run on top of Linux in embedded applications. Few guessed the importance Java was to play last Monday, when Google announced Android.
The completely open source stack aims to enable developers to write mobile phone applications that make use of Google services, thus expanding Google’s Maps, Mail, Search, LocalSearch, YouTube, and other services beyond the confines of the public Internet.In retrospective, some clue as to the importance of Java was hinted at by the presence of several Java specialists — including Aplix and Esmertec — among the founders of the Open Handset Alliance (OHA), the industry group formed to maintain and promote Android. Another clue might have come a year ago, when Sun GPL’d Java, simultaneously launching a “Mobile and Embedded Community” focused largely on a phoneME project. The “early look” SDK can be found here.
The main Android page, meanwhile, has lots of videos demonstrating Android phone capabilities, including the ones shown below Continue reading »
One of the big challenges for Google’s ambitious phone project is persuading software developers to write interesting applications. Already, developers of mobile phone programs complain about having to write for too many different software platforms, like Windows Mobile, Symbian, Palm, RIM, and soon, Apple’s iPhone. And while those software platforms are already powering millions of phones, there are no phones out there running Google’s “Android” system — and there won’t be any until the second half of next year.
So why would a developer bother? Money, of course. Google today is unveiling the developer tools for Android, and along with it, the promise of $10 million in prizes for those who build cool apps. The top 50 applications, as determined by a panel of judges, will be given $25,000 prizes to help fund further development. Then, of the 50, 10 will be eligible for $100,000 awards and another 10 $275,000 for awards.
The strategy is hardly original. Facebook recently announced a program called FB Fund to give grants to developers creating tools for the site. And Google itself has a similar program of grants and seed investments for those who create small apps, called widgets, for iGoogle, the company’s personalized home page service.
The idea appears to have worked for Facebook, which has attracted thousands of developers. For Google, it can’t hurt to try, as apparently the grumbling among developers about yet-another-mobile-platform has already begun.
“I am already spoilt for choice with Linux-based cell phone platforms and that Google’s Android software appears to be another to add to the list,” said Symbian CEO Nigel Clifford when asked about Google’s Android software.
Symbian, which has the lion’s share of the smartphone market in all regions except North America, seems to be least bothered with the launch of Google’s Android. With the largest phone manufactures Nokia being on its side, Symbian feels Google is no competion as they try to bring their Android software to market.
Meanwhile, the head of Nokia UK said the firm was in discussions with Google about using the platform. Simon Ainslie, Nokia UK’s managing director, said: “We are always open to discussion and debate on that. We were not ready to make any commitment to it or discuss it at the time.” He also said that the time was not right to make any announcement as to “how we can work with them”.
Google and others developed Android under the umbrella of the “Open Handset Alliance.” The platform will be based on Linux and other open-source elements and will offer a complete set of phone components, including an operating system, middleware stack, customisable user interface and applications. A number of big names in the wireless industry have already thrown their weight behind Open Handset Alliance, but it hardly does matter to Symbian.
John Forsyth, vice president of strategy at Symbian stated “It’s a bit like the common cold. It keeps coming round and then we go back to business. We don’t participate in these full stop. We make our own platform and we are focused on driving that into the mobile phone market at large ever more aggressively.”
Symbian’s recent financial results show it sold 20.4 million smartphone software licenses in the last quarter of 2007. Since the company was launched nine years ago more than 165 million phones have been shipped using its platform.
A broad alliance of leading technology and wireless companies today joined forces to announce the development of Android, the first truly open and comprehensive platform for mobile devices. Google Inc., T-Mobile, HTC, Qualcomm, Motorola and others have collaborated on the development of Android through the Open Handset Alliance, a multinational alliance of technology and mobile industry leaders.This alliance shares a common goal of fostering innovation on mobile devices and giving consumers a far better user experience than much of what is available on today’s mobile platforms. By providing developers a new level of openness that enables them to work more collaboratively, Android will accelerate the pace at which new and compelling mobile services are made available to consumers.With nearly 3 billion users worldwide, the mobile phone has become the most personal and ubiquitous communications device. However, the lack of a collaborative effort has made it a challenge for developers, wireless operators and handset manufacturers to respond as quickly as possible to the ever-changing needs of savvy mobile consumers. Through Android, developers, wireless operators and handset manufacturers will be better positioned to bring to market innovative new products faster and at a much lower cost. The end result will be an unprecedented mobile platform that will enable wireless operators and manufacturers to give their customers better, more personal and more flexible mobile experiences. Continue reading »
Google Inc is releasing a new application for Apple Inc’s iPhone that combines the Web leader’s services such as e-mail, search and calendar into a single interface.
