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Tag: goog-o

  • Nokia Quashes Android Smartphone Rumor, What About Netbook?


    Nokia has denied that it is developing a handset based on Google’s Android operating system.

    The response came after reports in the UK that the Finnish phone maker would announce an Android-based smartphone in September at the Nokia World Conference.

    Such a move would mean a massive change in direction for Nokia, which took full control of Symbian last year – in what was seen as a counter-move to the challenge posed by Android to its huge market share.

    Although Nokia remains the world’s biggest mobile handset manufacturer, its global share has slipped from 47 per cent in 2007 to 31 per cent at the end of 2008.

    A Nokia spokesman was adamant there is no plan to develop a handset supporting Symbian-rival Android software.

    "Absolutely no truth to this whatsoever," said the spokesman. "Everyone knows that Symbian is our preferred platform for advanced mobile devices."

    The Symbian operating system, in which Nokia has invested hundreds of millions of dollars, powers its Nokia N- and E-Series phones, among others.

    Nokia’s new partnership with Intel and some Android-based handsets would have been an interesting combination, no?

    But if it really is to be ruled out, perhaps there is still mileage in another theory – that Nokia is using Android as a basis for a 3G- or 4G-enabled netbook-type device powered by Intel’s chips.

  • Acer First to Make Android Netbooks


    Acer is to sell netbooks running Google’s Android operating system – with the first likely to be available before the end of the summer.

    The move is a setback for Microsoft, which was already selling its Windows OS at a reduced price to counter the threat posed by Linux.

    Making the announcement at the Computex PC trade show in Taipei, Jim Wong, Acer’s global president for IT products, said the current netbook offerings were "not close to perfection at all".

    He said if mobile Internet devices were not continually changed, consumers might not choose then any more.

    Acer recently announced that it is to launch smartphones with the Android platform later this year.

    Wong stressed that Acer will continue to use the Windows OS in its other netbooks.

    However, the cost of the Android-based devices should be less than Windows equivalents since the Linux-based Android system is free.

    Microsoft charges USD $15 for each copy of Windows XP.

    The Android netbooks will still use Intel Atom processors.

    Acer, ASUS and other netbook makers had choosen to use Linux before but had experienced high return rates for those Linux models.

    Users complained about difficulties using the OS.

    Android has promised to simplify the experience without limiting support for 3G or other extras.