UIQ announced this week a partnership with six new partners including ArcSoft, CleNET Technologies, fring™, Google, i-skoot and Mobica. UIQ is an open user interface and application development software platform, makes it possible for mobile phone manufacturers to create different kinds of phones, all based on the same open software platform. Main customers are Sony Ericsson and Motorola. The partnership is about creating Google services on UIQ and doesn’t involve the Android platform.

Carina Dietmann, Head of Corporate Communications UIQ Technology, told OHM “The partnership means that UIQ Technology will support Google in development of mobile applications on UIQ.”

Until Android “invade” the mobile market, Google have to provide their services for current mobile platforms such Symbian, Windows mobile, RIM, iPhone … UIQ is an excellent mobile experience running already on 17 mobile phones. UIQ have a common point with Android, it provides an advanced UI for Symbian OS while Android provide it in a Linux based OS.

Popularity: 20%

Japan is one of the most interesting market for mobile marketing, a market which is expected to grow to over $24 billion worldwide in 2013, jumping from just $1.8 billion in 2007, according to ABI Research. NTT DoCoMo and Google partnership announcement came mainly to reinforce Google position in this mobile advertising market, and possibly to bring Android based handsets to the Japanese market.

NTT DoCoMo is one of leading mobile communications companies worldwide, Headquartered in Tokyo, and is owner of i-mode, the world’s most popular mobile e-mail/Internet service, used by nearly 48 million people.

The company provides already a set of Handsets in collaboration with handset manufacturers such Fujitsu, including : Raku-Raku PHONE Basic, Secure 3G FOMA F903iBSC, 3G FOMA 703i Series, D800iDS and SO903iTV.

According to a new study by Mobile Consumer Behavior, outlining key challenges and success factors for the Open Handset Alliance :

Google’s Android is the first legitimate attempt to re-create the success of Japan’s “Wireless Ecosystem” model within the context and realities of international mobile markets. If successful, Google could spark unprecedented innovations within mobile content, service and application development, yet a number a critical factors stand in the way of such success.

Google is facing a big challenge in the Japanese Mobile Marketing Market first, then to reproduce this wireless ecosystem worldwide. Dr. Philip Sugai, Director of the Mobile Consumer Lab at the International University of Japan and lead author of MCB report, stated :

“Although Symbian and Microsoft have offered the most stinging criticisms of Google’s Android, Google’s next (and most) critical challenge at this early stage of development actually lies in how it will address MontaVista, and galvanize the mobile Linux development movement. Without successfully accomplishing this goal, Android will become obsolete within 2008, never ever leveling a substantial competitive threat against either Symbian or Microsoft.”

Popularity: 45%

After the first Android Campfire at the Googleplex, tow other international Android Code Days have been lined up. The first one on January 31st in London and Tel Aviv; and the second one in Boston, Massachusetts on February 23th. A similar event will be held in Munich, Germany during the Mobile Monday Germany on January 29th.

What’s a Code Day, you ask? Well, it’s just our name for a day-long introduction and immersion session for Android. We’ll give a technical introduction to the platform as well as a more in-depth look into topics of interest to the attendees. Then we’ll have a free-for-all coding session that we like to call the “Laptop Lounge”.

Two from the Google Android team will assist the Android Code Days “Jason Chen and I will be doing those Code Day events.” Dan Morill confirmed to OHM in email.

We are not sure if other intenational Android Code Days will be held by Google in other places, so probably the community can organize separately more Android Code Days. Meeting other Android developers will be great not only to exchange ideas and knowledge, but also to find partners for the challenge. Remember that last submission date is getting closer, March 3rd, 2008 !

Popularity: 27%

Tira Wireless announced today the support of Android Platform for its Jump 2008 Go Mobile solution. Jump 2008 is an innovative solution to reduce the cost of porting of Java-based mobile application across all mobile handsets. The Tira Wireless device knowledgebase includes 1,253 devices supported representing 44 handset manufacturers, 14,943 unique device/operator combinations, 2,643 devices in physical inventory, and 201 channels (mobile operators, content portals, etc.).

By supporting Android, Tira Wireless partners will be able to convert their applications from JavaME to Android easily. Another porting solution from JavaME to Android is now available after Esmertec and ME4Android. Tira Wireless solution will fit very well for organizations with limited internal development resources or those that require the scalability that Tira Wireless provides.

“Tira Wireless’ move to support Android is in line with our vision to support the major platforms and manage all elements of the mobile content lifecycle, regardless of the device or mobile operator,” said Juan Dewar, CEO of Tira Wireless. “Supporting the Android platform is also a natural extension of the work we have been doing with Java ME applications. Because of our years of experience in this market, we are very well positioned to understand the challenges of developing mobile content in a similar environment, and as a result, can maximize Android’s unique capabilities.”

Tira Wireless customers include Content publishers such Airbone Entertainment, Disney Mobile, Dwango Wireless, I-Play, Warner Bros, Pixiem, THQ Wireless, Dwango Wireless, Hudson Soft, ifone, Jumbuck, Mforma, Mobile Scope, Mobliss, Namco, Sega, SkyZone Entertainment, Sonic Branding Solutions, Sony Pictures Mobile, and Summus; Engineering Services Providers such Babel Media, Mahindra British Telecom, and Absolute Quality; and finally Mobile Operators : Telus, T-Mobile, and Helio.

The GoMobile Edition of the Jump Developer Desktop can be used to commercially deploy a single application on up to 12 handsets. For non-commercial purposes, it is free.

Popularity: 32%

Monday January 21, 2008, Buglabs launched its first gadgets to assemble and create your own mobile phone in the same way we create mashups for the web. BUG inlcude a BUGBase and modules that you can assemble like a lego. The BugBase is a fully programmable GNU/Linux computer with 4 expansion slots for inserting modules, and you can find currently four modules available :

• UGview, a full-color, hi-res, touch-sensitive LCD screen.
• BUGmotion, a motion detector and an accelerometer.
• BUGlocate, a GPS receiver.
• BUGcam2MP, a 2 megapixel digital camera.

We asked about runing Android on BUG devices, and Jeremy Toeman, “the marketing guy” for Bug Labs, told us : “While we are not 100% sure Android runs natively on the BUG platform, from everything we’ve read it seems like it should. When we have the final production hardware we’ll find out quite quickly - I have a feeling the developer community will get fairly active in this area!”

This will be defintely a great gadget if we could get Android running on it.

Popularity: 22%