In an interview Tuesday, Qualcomm CEO Paul Jacobs talked about the genesis of the Google phone.
Qualcomm supplies the main processor for the T-Mobile G1 running Google's Android OS. Jacobs talked on Tuesday about how HTC--the phone's manufacturer--Google, and Qualcomm initially got to know each other and became the principal players behind the new handset. After a Qualcomm conference in San Diego, CEO Paul Jacobs holds the T-Mobile G1 that runs Google's Android OS and is powered by the Qualcomm MSM7201A processor. After a Qualcomm conference in San Diego, CEO Paul Jacobs holds the T-Mobile G1 that runs Google's Android OS and is powered by the Qualcomm MSM7201A processor. (Credit: Brooke Crothers) Jacobs said he goes way back with Android's Andy Rubin. "I've known Andy Rubin for a long time from the Danger days," Jacobs said. (Andy Rubin is co-founder and former CEO of both Danger Inc. and Android.) "When they started to get the idea to do an open source operating system, they came and talked to us because we had the 3G chipsets and they knew us," Jacobs said. Jacobs talked about what Google brings to the mobile handset market that the Apple iPhone doesn't. "They're trying to build an open developer's community and have the software be open source and that means people will be able to modify it however they want." What else makes Google's phone different? "The industry is also interested in seeing what new (business) models can accelerate time-to-market. Give people the opportunity to differentiate." He talked about Google's back-end services being crucial. "Everyone talks about cloud computing. This is cloud computing. It's got all those services on the back-end. It uses all that storage and compute power on the Net." Jacobs then turned to HTC . He has worked with HTC since its beginnings about ten years ago. "And HTC...We had an investment in HTC very early on. And I knew Peter Chao, the guy running HTC." (Chao is the HTC CEO.) Jacobs said that the relationship with HTC was forged when the Compaq iPaq--one of the most popular of the early handheld devices--first came out. HTC made the original Compaq iPaq handheld and he got to know HTC CEO Peter Chao at that time. "Microsoft got Compaq to sell it...the very first one that came out." The Compaq iPaq--which has been rebranded the HP iPaq--used Microsoft's PocketPC software. So, looking back on all of this history, the principals from Android, Qualcomm, and HTC were really just leveraging longstanding relationships. "So, it was kind of like a bunch of people who had known each other for a long time in the wireless industries coming together," Jacobs said. Jacobs also talked about the Qualcomm MSM7201A applications processor that powers the T-Mobile G1. "It's a system on a chip (SOC). We ported the Android operating systems onto it," he said. Qualcomm optimized the Android software by integrating it with the MSM7201A--a dual-core chip that combines hardware-accelerated multimedia capabilities, 3D graphics and built-in, multi-mode 3G mobile broadband connectivity. The MSM7201A is a 32-bit ARM9 processor that supports GPS functions, EDGE , and HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access). Qualcomm is also one of the founding members of the Open Handset Alliance (OHA). Qualcomm said today in a statement that it is also working with other OEMs to develop handsets that operate on the Android platform. -- As long as forever, I will stay by your side, I'll be your companion, Your friend and your guide!!! Join Access India convention: For updates on it visit: http://accessindia.org.in/harish/convention.htm September 21 &22!! To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
