Mobile Unified Communications Featured Article

Just days after major media outlets leaked news that Google (News - Alert) is set to launch its own Android phone, a new report shows Android (News - Alert)-infused cell phones may be catching up with iPhones in more ways than one.

As it turns out, Android phone owners are downloading applications like crazy, and the number of apps available has finally hit the 20,000 milestone. AndroLib, which has been tracking the publication of all free and paid applications, said that as recently as five months ago, the number of Android apps was 10,000.

According to AndroLib, 38 percent of these apps are paid, while 62 percent of the apps cost as much as the license fee handset manufacturers need to fork over to Google for use of the Android OS. Some of the most notable apps include “StudyDroid,” which allows users to create unlimited packs of flash cards in lieu of index cards, and “AndroidScan,” which finds pricing and other data for barcode-tagged inventory.

The growing interest among developers to create tools, games and the enterprise applications for Android has also spurred the emergence of a new organization called the Open Embedded Software Foundation – which is dedicated to furthering the adoption of Google’s Android platform for use in applications that go beyond mobile phones.

 

In this working group industry leaders and OESF members will develop and promote the adoption of IP communications and VoIP extensions to the Android framework so that new communication modes can be easily accommodated, said Doug Makishima, COO of D2 Technologies (News - Alert) and coordinator of the OESF IP Communications Working Group.

 

“By focusing our work group on the IP communications needs of new products and devices such as IP media phones, digital photo frames, MIDs, DTV/STBs and connected home products,” Makishima said, “we can help the OESF achieve its overarching goal of moving the Android platform beyond mobile phones to many different embedded applications and electronics devices for consumers, carriers and enterprises.”