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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Google pushes into mobile phones | Google pushes into mobile phones |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Google has unveiled software it hopes will power a variety of future mobile phones and boost the web on the move. | Google has unveiled software it hopes will power a variety of future mobile phones and boost the web on the move. |
| The software could lead to cheaper phones as it is designed to speed up the process of making mobile services. | The software could lead to cheaper phones as it is designed to speed up the process of making mobile services. |
| The firm is working with four mobile manufacturers - Samsung, HTC, Motorola and LG - but a Google branded phone was not announced. | The firm is working with four mobile manufacturers - Samsung, HTC, Motorola and LG - but a Google branded phone was not announced. |
| The first phones using the so-called Google "software stack" will be available in the second half of 2008. | The first phones using the so-called Google "software stack" will be available in the second half of 2008. |
| "This is going to bring the internet into cell phones in a very cool way," Andy Rubin, Google's director of mobile platforms, told the Associated Press news agency. | "This is going to bring the internet into cell phones in a very cool way," Andy Rubin, Google's director of mobile platforms, told the Associated Press news agency. |
| Mr Rubin's firm, called Android, was bought by Google in 2005 and the software it developed forms the basis of the new stack. | Mr Rubin's firm, called Android, was bought by Google in 2005 and the software it developed forms the basis of the new stack. |
| We want to create a whole new mobile experience for users Eric Schmidt, Google | We want to create a whole new mobile experience for users Eric Schmidt, Google |
| Google has formed the Open Handset Alliance (OHA), made up of 34 companies, including chip manufacturers and handset makers. | |
| The move will be seen as a major competitor to Microsoft, Research in Motion, Palm and Symbian, who make the leading software systems for mobiles. | The move will be seen as a major competitor to Microsoft, Research in Motion, Palm and Symbian, who make the leading software systems for mobiles. |
| Google's Android software will be provided to handset makers free of charge and could lead to a price war for operating system licenses and potentially cheaper handsets. | Google's Android software will be provided to handset makers free of charge and could lead to a price war for operating system licenses and potentially cheaper handsets. |
| In the United States mobile networks such as Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile will carry the Google-powered phones. | In the United States mobile networks such as Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile will carry the Google-powered phones. |
| 'Unleash potential' | 'Unleash potential' |
| China Mobile, Telefonica in Spain and Telecom Italia are among the carriers that have signed on to provide services outside the US. | China Mobile, Telefonica in Spain and Telecom Italia are among the carriers that have signed on to provide services outside the US. |
| This doesn't seem to be a beta release of a technology. If I were a competitor, I would be sitting up and paying attention Analyst Adam Leach, Ovum | This doesn't seem to be a beta release of a technology. If I were a competitor, I would be sitting up and paying attention Analyst Adam Leach, Ovum |
| "This partnership will help unleash the potential of mobile technology for billions of users around the world," Eric Schmidt, Google's chief executive and chairman, said in a statement. | "This partnership will help unleash the potential of mobile technology for billions of users around the world," Eric Schmidt, Google's chief executive and chairman, said in a statement. |
| Rene Obermann, chief executive of Deutsche Telekom, said Android would offer a "better than internet experience for mobile users". | Rene Obermann, chief executive of Deutsche Telekom, said Android would offer a "better than internet experience for mobile users". |
| "This is a shot that is going to be heard around the world, but it's just the first shot in what is going to be a very protracted battle in the next frontier of the mobile web," said analyst Michael Gartenberg, at Jupiter Research. | |
| In a call to reporters, Mr Schmidt said: "We want to create a whole new mobile experience for users. | In a call to reporters, Mr Schmidt said: "We want to create a whole new mobile experience for users. |
| "Mobile users want the same applications on the phone as they use on the internet." | "Mobile users want the same applications on the phone as they use on the internet." |
| Peter Chou, chief executive of HTC, said the agreement to join the OHA did not mean the firm would stop the use of other operating systems on its platforms. | |
| "We do have commitments with some carriers and will continue with those lines," he said. | |
| There have been many reports of a so-called Google phone in recent months. | There have been many reports of a so-called Google phone in recent months. |
| "Today's announcement is more ambitious than any single Google Phone that the press has been speculating about over the past few weeks," said Mr Schmidt. | "Today's announcement is more ambitious than any single Google Phone that the press has been speculating about over the past few weeks," said Mr Schmidt. |
| "Our vision is that the powerful platform we're unveiling will power thousands of different phone models." | "Our vision is that the powerful platform we're unveiling will power thousands of different phone models." |
| But Mr Schmidt would not rule out the release of a Google Phone in the future. | |
| Adam Leach, principal analyst with Ovum, said: "It's an important announcement. That number of companies already committing to the service is very impressive." | Adam Leach, principal analyst with Ovum, said: "It's an important announcement. That number of companies already committing to the service is very impressive." |
| Mr Leach said the danger was that the move would create "yet another" competing service and not a "truly open platform". | Mr Leach said the danger was that the move would create "yet another" competing service and not a "truly open platform". |
| "We've seen collaboration of this sort before in the mobile industry and there's quite a number of platforms already out there professing to remove fragmentation, speed-up time to market and enable third-party innovation. | "We've seen collaboration of this sort before in the mobile industry and there's quite a number of platforms already out there professing to remove fragmentation, speed-up time to market and enable third-party innovation. |
| "The proposition from that point of view is not new." | "The proposition from that point of view is not new." |
| He added: "This doesn't seem to be a beta release of a technology. If I were a competitor, I would be sitting up and paying attention." | He added: "This doesn't seem to be a beta release of a technology. If I were a competitor, I would be sitting up and paying attention." |
| Google's system will be based on computer code that can be openly distributed among programmers, allowing them to build new applications. | Google's system will be based on computer code that can be openly distributed among programmers, allowing them to build new applications. |
| A development tool kit for working on the new platform will be released next week. | A development tool kit for working on the new platform will be released next week. |