NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) – Google Inc. Monday said it plans to discuss its Android platform for mobile devices in a conference call at 12 p.m. ET. The announcement is confirmation of the company’s long-anticipated plans to enter the mobile phone area.
In a joint statement with other member, Google also disclosed the formation of the Open Handset Alliance, which it said is comprised of more than 30 technology and mobile industry companies including Motorola, Qualcomm, T-Mobile, HTC and others.
The company said the first phones based on the Android platform to be available in the second half of 2008. Android will be available under an open-source license with the Open Handset Alliance targeting next week for the release of an early access software development kit for developers to begin creating applications for the Android platform.
‘Thirty-four companies have formed the Open Handset Alliance, which aims to develop technologies that will significantly lower the cost of developing and distributing mobile devices and services,’ read a statement issued by Google and other members of the alliance.
‘The Android platform is the first step in this direction — a fully integrated mobile ‘software stack’ that consists of an operating system, middleware, user-friendly interface and applications,’ the statement continued.
Google shares were up 1.7% to $723.01 in midday trades. The session high of $726 represents a new all-time peak once again for the company, a bounce well above last week’s top at $706.07.
Michael Baron
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