Good news for Android developers, the challenge’s deadlines have just been extended. The first ADC submission deadline is April 14, 2008. There will be another major SDK update according to the blog post Quang Nguyen, Android Developer Advocate, mentionned also perviously by Dan Morill. There is no further information at this time about the upcoming SDK, but you will have more time now to get familiar with the next SDK edition.

Based on the great feedback you’ve given us, we’ve made significant updates to the SDK that we’ll be releasing in several weeks. In order to give you extra time to take advantage of these forthcoming UI and API enhancements, we’ve decided to extend the submission deadline. In addition, a fair number of developers have also asked for more time to build and polish their applications.

Below the updated timeline :

• April 14, 2008: Deadline to submit applications for judging
• May 5, 2008: Announcement of the 50 first round winners, who will be eligible for the final round
• June 30, 2008: Deadline for the 50 winners of the first round to submit for the final round
• July 21, 2008: Announcement of the grand prize winner and runner-up

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It’s obvious that 2008 is the year of mobile Linux. Nokia announced today the acquisition of Trolltech, a lead company in Embedded Linux, for $153M. Nokia, major owner of Symbian, said that the acquisition will enable the company to accelerate its cross-platform software strategy for mobile devices and desktop applications, and develop its Internet services business.

“The technology landscape evolves and, for Nokia, software plays a major role in our growth strategy for devices, PCs and the integration with the Internet. We continue to focus on areas where we can differentiate and add more value. Common cross-platform layers on top of our software platforms attract innovation and enable Web 2.0 technologies in the mobile space,” said Kai Öistämö, Executive Vice President, Devices, Nokia. “Trolltech’s deep understanding of open source software and its strong technology assets will enable both Nokia and others to innovate on our device platforms while reducing time-to-market. This acquisition will also further increase the competitiveness of S60 and Series 40.”

A new challenge is awaiting Nokia and Symbian to keep its market share and possibly gain more in the current and next years. It was expected that a company such Motorola make the move to acquire Trolltech since it already use Qtopia for many of its handsets.

Nokia seems to be more interested into making SymbianOS better, not just introducing more Linux devices using Qt/embedded Trolltech technology. Trolltech is more ambitious to see their dream becoming true and that “Qt everywhere” won’t be just a slogan.

The question is, How will Symbian be affected by Trolltech purchase ?

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If you are subscribed to our RSS for news updates you probably won’t notice that our website have completely changed since last week. Now it’s more simple, clear and easier to find the information you are looking for. It is also more like a magazine ! I would like to thank Adii for his great webdesign work. We spent last week on testing the new design and improving different aspect of the website.

We are currently working on the video and podcast section, which will be enabled in the next days. A new job board for Android jobs is now available for US-based Android Jobs only, but it will be expanded to support more countries late in this year. A mobile edition of the OHM is also available, and that you might consult already from your mobile device at the same address openhandsetmagazine.com.

This is not everything, because we have also moved our server to a new Dual Quad-Core Xeon, 1GB DDR2 ECC 667 RAM, 30GB on SAS/SCSI, and 10Mbps Dedicated Unmetered. You will notice the difference if you visited our website last week and today. The server is used only by our network partners and serving hundred thousands of unique visitors daily, including OHM readers.

Hope you enjoy the new OHM and let us know if you have any suggestion or topic you would like to read.

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Even if the way “how Google will really profit from Android” still a mystery until today, the answer is certainly around advertising. The mobile advertising market is really booming, even if some market predection are confusing, for example according to ABI research Mobile Marketing revenue will hit the $24 Billion in 2013, jumping from just $1.8 Billion in 2007, while consultancy Forrester in the other side predict revenue under $1 billion by 2012. Open Handset Magazine asked the emerging players in the mobile advertising market about Android and mobile marketing. Admob and Millennial Media accepted to answer our questions.

OHM: What do you think about Android Mobile Platform?

Eric Eller, SVP Products and Marketing at Millennial Media

With good reason, there is lots of excitement surrounding any open initiative. It provides increased opportunity for developers to be creative and innovative while taking an active role in the future of consumer applications and services. More mobile applications mean more choices and more compelling content for users, which will lead to higher mobile usage - obviously a positive thing for the industry.

Jason Spero, VP Marketing at Admob :

The launch of the iPhone and the announcement of the Android project are about users. The potential of the mobile ecosystem has been well documented (and well marketed). Many blame the Operators for the perceived lack of progress toward this potential, but a variety of forces have constrained the user experience on the mobile device. These include: device form factor, text entry and capabilities, network speeds and capabilities, billing mechanisms, discovery mechanisms, non-commerce monetization mechanisms, fragmentation of application platforms, fragmentation of browser platforms and more. Each of these needs to be addressed for mobile to achieve its promise. Apple and Google recognize the opportunity and have grown frustrated with the pace at which the obstacles are being address.

Android is a market development effort. Google understands the opportunity for its business model once the mobile internet takes off. Google is now working actively to accelerate that takeoff. Android addresses some (but not all) of the ecosystem needs. In theory, the availability of a robust underlying software platform will reduce fragmentation for application developers, decrease cost and time to market for device manufacturers and spark a new wave of competition in device form factors that will deliver better user experience for mobile data. This will drive use of the mobile internet. In theory. What remains to be seen is how manufacturers will leverage and extend Android to their needs and whether this will undermine the core goal of decreasing fragmentation. But we remain hopeful that Android will deliver on its promise.

AdMob has had a front row seat for the acceleration of the mobile internet in 2006 and 2007. We see dramatic progress against the constraints to mobile web usage.

• Devices are dramatically improved even before the impact of iPhone and Android
• Increases in network speeds have improved the mobile browsing experience
• Simpler data pricing models have made mobile internet more accessible for all
• Content providers have a viable means to monetize their offerings via advertising
• Discovery is being addressed via search, directories and advertising

The launch of the iPhone gave the market a picture of what a mobile data experience could be. This is an example that has catalyzed investment against all of the requirements for mobile data. The iPhone and Android have accelerated something that was already happening.

AdMob is pro mobile internet for all the same reasons that Google is pro mobile internet. AdMob is device agnostic and can benefit from any and all improvements in the mobile web experience. The launch of Android devices in 2008 and beyond will drive increased usage of the mobile internet. Google has said that it will keep separate its market development efforts via Android from its search and AdSense businesses. AdMob believes this ensures fair competition. So AdMob, awaits the arrival of Android devices in the same way we anticipate innovation from Nokia, Motorola, Samsung and others. Improvements in user experience will drive usage, which is all we can ask.

OHM: How could Google Android change the mobile advertising market?

Eric E.: “Google is obviously a major player in online advertising and anything they do in the mobile space will have an impact. What remains to be seen is the nature of that impact. On the one hand, by enabling developers to quickly create new innovative mobile applications, Android could help increase the availability of mobile content that is available for free using the ad-supported model. On the other hand, if developers are compelled to preferentially utilize Google advertising services versus other opportunities in the market, the perception of openness will disappear.”

Jason S.: “The mobile ad market is already growing rapidly.

If Android delivers an improved user experience this will drive usage of the mobile internet. This will further accelerate the growing interest in reaching users on their mobile devices and will motivate more and more content providers to invest in mobile. User experience improvements will drive both supply of and demand for mobile advertising.”

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Almost one month before Android developer challenge and more applications popped out getting ready for the challenge. Highlighted this week are the framework and efforts to help making amazing Android applications : the case of AndroidSap and GridGain respectively for Android/SAP Netweaver integration and Grid computing on Android devices. More applications include Paparazzi, the first real-life multiplayer game and Molib which integrates maps to Velib service in Paris.

Paparazzi Game for Google Android

“Paparazzi” was designed to use the built-in phone camera in the first person real-life multiplayer game. This is a prototype of location based MMORPG which will combine all new Android features like gps/compass/camera. Just imagine that you will be able to see virtual objects via phone camera. An innovative virtual reality game for the Android developer contest. Paparazzi preview version is available for download.

AndroidSAP Connects Android to a SAP Backend

Ignacio Hernandez have created an interesting example application to connect Android to SAP NetWeaver. An intersting project to bring Android to enterprise ERP/CRM world. Code is free so you can use it in your own application. More information and download available from Ignacio blog.

GridGrain, Open Source Grid Computing for Android

Featured last Tuesday on BusinessWeek, GridGrain is an open source Grid Computing solution for Java available for Android platform. GridGrain is not an application but a technology that could be used to create innovative applications with shared computing between different Android devices. But the question is, can we really turn Android devices into supercomputers ? Sounds like science fiction.

Molib, Velib on Android

Velib is a new public bicycle rental program launched in Paris on July 15, 2007. The program include 750 hire points, and 10,000 bicycles. Similar programs are available in others cities such Brussels, Copenhagen, Munich … etc. Velib is very useful and with Molib it become much more better, especially if you don’t know the city. The idea is to avoid congestions and use a velib instead of your car or metro. Molib will be simply your guide in Paris to find Velib stations nearby in real time, and show your locations in the city.

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