On 9/21/10 08:38 , Marcelo Fukushima wrote:
i think they could join OHA (which is not owned by google) and have a
properly licensed android phone with market access and all its
goodness as long as they obey the specs. And if they do that, i cant
see how google could/would block them
The specs to obey include the CTS - quoting a old post about Android
(please don't consider the title of the article, it's misleading):
****
http://www.visionmobile.com/blog/2010/04/is-android-evil/
6. *Anti-fragmentation agreement*. Little is known about the
anti-fragmentation agreement signed by OHA members
<http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/02/02/google_android_developers_view/page2.html>
but we understand it’s a commitment to not release handsets which are
not CTS compliant (more on CTS later).
...
Another big chapter in the Android saga is the CTS (compatibility test
suite) which is the formal testing process by which a handset passes
Google requirements. According to our sources, CTS extends significantly
beyond API compliance, and into performance testing, hardware features,
device design, UI specs and bundled services. CTS is based on the
principle of ensuring baseline compliance, so it’s ok to add features,
but it’s not ok to detract; compare this with Apple’s no-Flash policy.
Note that beyond CTS compliance, there are additional commercial
licensing agreements that OEMs have to sign for Google services and
private line access.
CTS hampers Android’s progress as well, as it precludes OEMs from
creating stripped-down versions of Android that would fit on mass-market
phones – those shipping in the 10s of millions. CTS – and forward
compatibility to the pool of 40,000+ apps – *is Google’s main challenge
for hitting a 2-digit market share in the smartphone market*. These
restrictions – and frienemy relationship between Google and its OEM
partners – have stirred up discussions of an ‘*Android foundation*‘
within OEM circles
****
Now, note that I am *pretty positive* on the fact that Google is trying
to prevent a split-fashioned fragmentation of Android. They already
fragmented Java, any further fragmentation would be further evil. It's
in their and our (developers) interest to prevent that from happening.
So, if FaceBook only made a phone which pre-installs and perhaps better
integrates their app, it could be ok. If their plans are different...
we'll see.
--
Fabrizio Giudici - Java Architect, Project Manager
Tidalwave s.a.s. - "We make Java work. Everywhere."
java.net/blog/fabriziogiudici - www.tidalwave.it/people
[email protected]
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