Google has developed an operating system for mobile phones called Android. Like other "smart phones" (e.g., Apple iPhone, Palm Pre, certain Blackberry and Nokia models) a phone running Android is really a mobile internet device that can run applications from third parties. It's a little Wi-Fi enabled computer that happens also to be a phone.
The first version of Android was released in 2007. The OS is functional, and available to manufacturers for free. Phones running Android have recently appeared for sale on the Sprint network (HTC Hero, Samsung Moment), T-Mobile (HTC G1, Motorola Cliq) and Verizon (Motorola Droid, HTC Eris). More phone manufacturers (LG, Kyocera, Sony/Ericsson, Acer and others) are exploring the use of Android. 2010 will see the introduction of several Android models from additional manufacturers.
The question since 2007 is, Will Google be content to give Android to phone manufacturers to sell, or will Google offer a phone under its own name? Maybe this question has been answered.
Google recently presented a large number of their staff with new phones running the Google Android 2.1 operating system. The company says putting the phones in the hands of its employees is only a large scale test of the new features of the 2.1 OS. But industry pundits disagree, saying this proves Google will shortly offer a phone under its own brand.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the test phone will be sold by Google to the public under the name "Nexus One" starting in early 2010.
The Google Phone "mobile lab" hardware includes:
Android 2.1 OS
built by HTC
Qualcomm 1 GHz Snapdragon CPU
.. (the iPhone uses a Samsung ARM processor, 667 MHz)
a little thinner than iPhone
trackball to direct the cursor on the screen
no physical keyboard
high resolution OLED display
WiFi and 3G connectivity
5 MP camera with onboard flash
Reports from Google staff indicate that the Google test phone has a radio that works using GSM protocols. In USA, that means the phones can work with T-Mobile or AT&T 3G data networks. Worldwide, GSM is the technology used by most carriers for 3G. So the new phone would work on networks outside USA, too.
The Google Phone is "unlocked," meaning it's not tied to a particular cell phone carrier. So there would be no problem using the phone on ATT in USA on Sunday, a European GSM carrier on Tuesday, and a Japanese carrier on Friday. Just change the SIM card as you travel.
Photos of the phone show external similarities to the HTC Dragon model. Verizon is expected to sell this phone as the HTC Passion sometime soon. The Passion uses Android 2.0. So another question emerges. Will Android 2.1 become available to all Android phones at some point?
Chip Haven
The first version of Android was released in 2007. The OS is functional, and available to manufacturers for free. Phones running Android have recently appeared for sale on the Sprint network (HTC Hero, Samsung Moment), T-Mobile (HTC G1, Motorola Cliq) and Verizon (Motorola Droid, HTC Eris). More phone manufacturers (LG, Kyocera, Sony/Ericsson, Acer and others) are exploring the use of Android. 2010 will see the introduction of several Android models from additional manufacturers.
The question since 2007 is, Will Google be content to give Android to phone manufacturers to sell, or will Google offer a phone under its own name? Maybe this question has been answered.
Google recently presented a large number of their staff with new phones running the Google Android 2.1 operating system. The company says putting the phones in the hands of its employees is only a large scale test of the new features of the 2.1 OS. But industry pundits disagree, saying this proves Google will shortly offer a phone under its own brand.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the test phone will be sold by Google to the public under the name "Nexus One" starting in early 2010.
The Google Phone "mobile lab" hardware includes:
Android 2.1 OS
built by HTC
Qualcomm 1 GHz Snapdragon CPU
.. (the iPhone uses a Samsung ARM processor, 667 MHz)
a little thinner than iPhone
trackball to direct the cursor on the screen
no physical keyboard
high resolution OLED display
WiFi and 3G connectivity
5 MP camera with onboard flash
Reports from Google staff indicate that the Google test phone has a radio that works using GSM protocols. In USA, that means the phones can work with T-Mobile or AT&T 3G data networks. Worldwide, GSM is the technology used by most carriers for 3G. So the new phone would work on networks outside USA, too.
The Google Phone is "unlocked," meaning it's not tied to a particular cell phone carrier. So there would be no problem using the phone on ATT in USA on Sunday, a European GSM carrier on Tuesday, and a Japanese carrier on Friday. Just change the SIM card as you travel.
Photos of the phone show external similarities to the HTC Dragon model. Verizon is expected to sell this phone as the HTC Passion sometime soon. The Passion uses Android 2.0. So another question emerges. Will Android 2.1 become available to all Android phones at some point?
Chip Haven
