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.

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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.”

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Today is the day that everyone is expecting to get a first taste of Android technology and get the SDK for the first time. It’s amazing how a project with such number of members was kept secret for all this time. We was following opinions since last monday and many things unknown are now more clear especially the commitment of Google and other partners in the project, the choice of linux, the open license Apache V2, … etc. And defintely, Eric Schmidt answer on the Google’s strategy to monetize Android is self-explanatory :

“We’re likely to want to enter into such agreements with handset partners because sharing in the revenue, sharing in the advertising, produces just a better total ecosystem. Our whole strategy around partnership has been to work with people, literally share in the profits, share in the revenue, under whatever terms make sense, because then everybody’s in alignment. The fact that Android allows it does not require it. I think it’s highly likely we would do it.”

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Google have just announced this monday its commitment to the mobile technology market by the new Open Handset Alliance and Android. While people was expecting a new Google Phone, the news was about something more general, which is a mobile operating system which aims to make life easier and spread mobile phones usage around the globe. The idea sounds more amazing than creating a single phone, and looks also more benefic for Google to get its mobile services used by more and more peoples.

Android according to Google’s announcement is the first truly open and comprehensive platform for mobile devices, including an operating system, User interface and applications. Until today we still don’t know anything about android, but the first SDK will be available for developers since next monday. We can’t miss this opportunity and launched the Open Handset Magazine to follow this new technology and how it could change the mobile world.

HTC will create the first mobile handset using Android which will be available in the second half of 2008 according to official sources. The next year is going to be hot in the mobile market, as everyone is expecting, and we can’t wait to see the first results of this new alliance including Mobile Operators, Semiconductor Companies, Handset Manufacturers, Software Companies and Commercialization Companies. Until the time this dream come true, rendez-vous next monday to learn more about the new Android SDK, and this new mobile technology.

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