At Mobile World Congress, four processor vendors demonstrated their pre-production devices that run on Google’s Android operating system, which is based on Linux.
Compatible with Google applications, the Android devices work with both touchscreen and non-touchscreen models with two different home screen designs. One of the designs suggested a smooth-scrolling ribbon of application icons along the bottom of the home screen, whereas the other home screen design was loaded up with many icons to access recent applications and actions.
Besides, it also includes additional features such as calendar, contacts book, music player, Gmail, Google Maps, and video player.
TI presented Android on a Motorola Q-like QWERTY handheld with their 200 Mhz OMAP 850 platform, and even on OMAP 3430 processor, Qualcomm showed the OS on an MSM7201 chip, Marvell demonstrated on XScale Monahans processor.
A smooth and fast user-interface was noticed while the Android OS was running on the devices.
HTC, Motorola, LG and Samsung mobile phones are part of Google’s Open Handset Alliance. These makers can develop handsets with the Android OS.
The Android phones are expected to release in later this year.
