The Google phone turns out to be only an OS
Yes, you heard it right. The much hyped Google phone (aka gPhone) is not a device, but a software platform based on Linux OS.
Not much details were revealed on today’s press conference. What is clear is that no new phones using Google’s platform (called Android) will appear till the second half of 2008.
The Android platform is a brain child of Open Handset Alliance, which consists of more than 30 technology and mobile leaders including T-Mobile, HTC, Qualcomm, Motorola and others. The SDK for the platform is scheduled for release on 12th of November.
The Symbian OS providers (namely Nokia and Sony Ericsson) along with such major carriers as AT&T, Verizon and Orange are obviously not convinced, so they didn’t join the Google’s boat.
Andy Rubin, Director of mobile platforms at Google, made a vague announcement of the new platform in his blog. Om Malik in turn asks questions in his blog about the viability of Android and its licensing scheme in the already saturated mobile market with only one manufacturer (HTC) commited to releasing Android-based devices in the near future.
Well, we’ll see how it will all turn out. In the mean time, Apple’s iPhone remains unchalenged.