Today a group of thirty-four companies announced the formation of the Open Handset Alliance whose goal is to develop technologies that will reduce the cost of developing and distributing mobile services and devices. The first platform stack out of this group, named “Android,” is a fully integrated system containing OS, middleware, user interface, and applications. Cell phones based on this platform could be available as early as Q1-Q2/2008.

Some of the companies in the alliance include T-Mobile, HTC, and Motorola. For more information about the Open Handset Alliance, visit the website at www.openhandsetalliance.com.