Verizon has enlisted Google's Android mobile platform to help as it fights to regain lost marketshare from rival carrier AT&T. Verizon has also revealed that it will fully support Google Voice.
Google and Verizon are teaming up to bring the Android mobile platform to Verizon's network. In a joint announcement issued today, the two companies revealed that they are collaborating with handset makers to develop new Android-based smartphones. Verizon was originally skeptical of Android and snubbed the platform, expressing a preference for the competing LiMo initiative. Verizon made a strong commitment to LiMo last year but didn't rule out the possibility of adopting Android too. Although the first major LiMo smartphones are beginning to show up in the European market, the platform has attracted very little attention here in the US and hasn't gained much traction with third-party developers yet. This being the case, Verizon seems to have lost interest in LiMo and is moving forward with Android. Verizon's plan to offer Android phones will come as no surprise to many of our readers. It's been well-known for some time that Motorola's second Android device, codenamed Sholes, was designed for Verizon. As we mentioned in our recent coverage of the Android 1.6 release, the latest version of Google's platform introduces CDMA support, which is needed to make Android work on Verizon's network. The Motorola Sholes, also known as Tao, is one of the first Android devices with compelling hardware specs. Rumors indicate that it will include an OMAP 3430 processor and a WVGA display. It is said to be a Google Experience phone and will not have Motorola's custom MotoBlur interface. Verizon says that it will be launching two Android handsets within a matter of weeks. There is some evidence indicating that the second one will be an HTC touchscreen device with HTC's Sense UI. Verizon has been feeling a lot of pressure from AT&T, which has won converts by being the exclusive iPhone carrier in the US. Verizon's handset offerings have historically lagged far behind other carriers, but the company has made a strong effort in recent months to make its device lineup more appealing. Launching a top-notch Android handset will boost Verizon's competitiveness on the device front. Verizon is also quick to point out that its network offers broader coverage; in a recent advertisement, Verizon takes aim at its rival's network coverage and mocks the iPhone. AT&T, for its part, has faced strong criticism recently from iPhone users over the growing number of dropped calls and other technical problems. In another potshot at AT&T, Verizon has stated unambiguously that it will fully support Google Voice on its network. AT&T and Apple have received close scrutiny from the FCC over their rejection of the Google Voice application for the iPhone, though AT&T maybe bending on this issue, and the carrier recently revealed that it will be opening its 3G network to VoIP software in response to the FCC's concerns. Ultimately, Verizon's adoption of Android marks an important step forward for Google's mobile platform, which was previously only available through T-Mobile in the United States. As the second-largest carrier, Verizon has the clout to bring Android to many more users. http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news/2009/10/robot-invasion-android-and-google-voice-coming-to-verizon.ars -- Salam, Agus Hamonangan [email protected] http://groups.google.com/group/id-gtug/ http://groups.google.com/group/id-android/ --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Google Groups "Indonesian Android Community [id-android]" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To request to subscribe to this group, please visit the following page: http://groups.google.com/group/id-android/subscribe?hl=en-GB To send a message to the owner, visit the following page: http://groups.google.com/group/id-android/post?sendowner=1&hl=en-GB or [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/id-android?hl=en?hl=en-GB To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] Indonesian Android Community on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=112207700729 -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
