Open Handset Alliance Grows; Where Are The Devices?

With this week's addition of 14 new members to Google's Open Handset Alliance, the total number of participants skyrockets to 47, all working to develop devices and applications based around Google's open-source Android mobile operating system.

Google's Open Handset Alliance includes several top handset makers, mobile operators, and software, semiconductor and commercialization companies. The new additions—AKM Semiconductor, ARM, ASUSTek Computer, Atheros Communications, Borgs, Ericsson, Garmin International, Huawei Technologies, Omron Software, Softbank Mobile, Sony Ericsson, Teleca AB, Toshiba and Vodafone—will further the group's cause.

But so far, the year-old consortium has only churned out three actual devices, while Android members such as LG, Motorola, Samsung, Sprint Nextel and more continue to release proprietary smartphones from their own camps.

"With these commitments, the Open Handset Alliance will continue to drive greater and faster innovation for the benefit of mobile users and everyone in the industry," Google said in a statement announcing the new members.

It could be a while before the newest members start releasing handsets. It took nearly a year for the first Android-based device, the HTC-made T-Mobile G1, to hit stores. Last week, Australia-based Kogan Technologies unveiled a pair of Android devices, the Agora and the Agora Pro, marking the second and third official Android-based devices to reach the market.

In the meantime, other device makers have made their Android plans known. Motorola has said it is working diligently to build Android-based devices, while Sony Ericsson, one of the Open Handset Alliance's newest members, has vowed to release an open-source device in the near future.

"We believe Sony Ericsson can bring a wealth of experience in making consumer-focused multimedia handsets with new user experience to the alliance, drawing on the successes of the Walkman and Syber-shot subbrands," said Rikko Sakaguchi, CVP and head of creation and development at Sony Ericsson, in a statement.

But seeing that it took nearly a year from the alliance's formation for the first device to hit the market, don't expect a plethora of Android-bases smartphones any time soon. It's most likely more devices will come in mid- to late 2009 as development begins in earnest now.

Still, having a team of high-powered technology and mobility players working for one common cause and seeking to deploy devices compatible with Android, contribute code to the Android Open Source Project and support the Android ecosystem through products and services is a step in the right direction.

And while the devices may be as yet few and far between, a nearly 50-member consortium boosts Google's competitive position against the dominant mobility players currently ruling the game, such as Nokia with its Symbian platform, Research In Motion with its BlackBerry line and Apple with its now-iconic iPhone.

To be a true competitor, however, the Android crew must start creating and releasing devices and make good on their vow to build new handsets and develop applications in a mobile ecosystem of devices and applications that are ultimately cheaper to build and deploy.

It will be exciting to see which direction Google Android and the Open Handset Alliance take next year.