After the announcement of db4objects and perst, two advanced object oriented database solutions for Android, today, ODBMS.ORG, the Internet’s most up to date resource portal on object database technology, has agreed to host the resources of the former ODMG.ORG consortium.

This merger gives researchers and students, as well as any software developer with interest in object oriented programming and persistence, a one-stop experience to find nearly 1,000 resources aggregated and selected by a team of more than 100 internationally renown experts on object database technology including names such as Alan Kay, Suad Alagic, Scott Ambler, Philippe Kahn, Michael Blaha, William Cook, and Carl Rosenberger.

“ODBMS.ORG is an outstanding resource to the community,” says Rick Cartell, Distinguished Engineer at Sun Microsystems and a lead of the ODMG consortium before it was disbanded in 2001. “The group has done a great job re-igniting the ODBMS research and educational communities. The community no longer debates whether ODBMSs or RDBMSs are ‘best’, recognizing that the two will continue to co-exist. ODBMSs provide the only practical solution for many applications.”

ODBMS.ORG provides the Internet’s most up-to-date resource portal on object database technology, backed by a panel of 100 internationally recognizable experts and financial support from the three leading object database vendors, db4objects (db4o), Progress (ObjectStore), and Versant.

Popularity: 23%

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.”

Popularity: 37%

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.

Popularity: 46%

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: 25%