Qualcomm helps push Android beyond the handset

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Qualcomm helps push Android beyond the handset

By CAROLINE GABRIEL

Published: 9 January, 2009

READ MORE: Qualcomm | Handset

The momentum behind Google's Android system is mounting, and the latest theme is its likely move on to netbooks and mobile internet devices (MIDs), extending its reach from its natural base of midrange smartphones. This was reinforced at CES by a demonstration by Qualcomm, which showed Android running on its Snapdragon chipset, which is targeted at MIDs and other devices that go beyond the conventional handset.

Qualcomm said the work is geared to larger MIDs and web tablets, having already been an early adopter of Android on its mainstream smartphone chipsets - the first Android phone, the T-Mobile/HTC G1, runs on the chip giant's MSM2701A silicon, which will also turn up in many of the wave of Android phones expected to hit the market around mid-year.

Qualcomm worked with embedded OS specialist Wind River to optimize and integrate Android for Snapdragon and particularly for larger screen devices with WVGA resolution.

Wind River will make this code available to the Open Handset Alliance, the industry group that backs Android, and the system's open source process.

Snapdragon was also put through its paces on prototypes of Linux (non-Android) netbooks and Windows Mobile devices. The first commercial Snapdragon devices should launch within the next few months, with OEMs heavily focused on the Taiwanese ODM community, which is driving the netbook trend. Supporters, some of whom also back Android, include Acer, Asus, Compal, Foxconn, HTC, LG, Samsung and Toshiba.