Ericsson & Sony Ericsson join the Android bandwagon

Stuart Corner
Wednesday, 10 December 2008 04:00

Business IT - Technology

Ericsson and its handset joint venture with Sony, Sony Ericsson, have both joined the Google-backed Open Handset Alliance set up to develop and promote the Android mobile handset software.

Ericsson says it will support the Android software stack on selected platforms, both with external application processors and integrated solutions and will “contribute with necessary software interfaces and drivers to the Android Open Source Project in order to further support the development of Android." It expects to have mobile platforms supporting Android available by mid-2009.
 
Ericsson claims to support all major operating systems on its platforms. It has several different application processors that run Symbian and has delivered Windows Mobile-based platforms to a number of mobile phones around the world. Ericsson is also a member of the LiMo Foundation dedicated to Linux based open source handset platforms.

Robert Puskaric, head of Ericsson's mobile platforms' business, said: "Android is set to become a significant application framework for mobile phones and our goal is to provide our customers with platforms that enable them to be successful."

Announcing its membership of the alliance, Sony Ericsson said it intended to develop a handset based on the Android platform. Rikko Sakaguchi, CVP and head of creation and development, said: "We believe Sony Ericsson can bring a wealth of experience in making consumer focused multimedia handsets with new user experience to the Alliance drawing on the successes of the Walkman and Cyber-shot sub-brands.

“Sony Ericsson is a strong supporter of open operating systems and we believe the Open Handset Alliance offers an exciting opportunity for a new and unique user experience only Sony Ericsson can deliver."

Like Ericsson Sony Ericsson also develops handsets based on Symbian and Windows Mobil, but is not a member of LiMo.