November 09, 2009
D2 Technologies Announces New Working Group to Enhance Google's Android Platform for Unified IP CommunicationsBy Marisa Torrieri, TMCnet Editor D2 Technologies, a provider of mobile unified communications, today announced that it has joined the Open Embedded Software Foundation -- an organization dedicated to furthering the adoption of Google’s (News - Alert) Android platform for use in applications that go beyond mobile phones.
Additionally, the Santa Barbara, Calif.-based company announced it is the lead member of a new OESF working group established to enhance Android (News - Alert) for IP communications by defining standard extensions and APIs to deliver support for new unified communications modes such as VoIP, video calling, instant messaging and presence.
The OESF IP Communications Working Group will give its first demo of the Android platform enhanced for IP communications and VoIP at the Embedded Technology 2009 conference, sponsored by the Japan Embedded Systems Technology Association, held at the Pacifico Yokohama convention complex, Nov. 18-20.
“In this working group, D2, other 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 (News - Alert), COO of D2 Technologies 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, 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.” Makishima said this will ultimately benefit the OEM or ODM by delivering the power of the Android platform along with important necessary enhancements for converged communications.
“[Currently], the Android operating system is really limited in its framework in terms of support for IP communications,” Makishima told TMCnet. “Our goal is to take the Android beyond the mobile phone platform and move it to other consumer electronics and enterprise devices. The new breed of enterprise communications devices that support UC features require rich IP communications functionality. The extensions we are creating for Android enable it to be used to build such IP Communications platforms.”
Marisa Torrieri is a TMCnet Web editor, covering IP hardware and mobility, including IP phones, smartphones, fixed-mobile convergence and satellite technology. She also compiles and regularly contributes to TMCnet's gadgets and satellite e-Newsletters. To read more of Marisa's articles, please visit her columnist page. Edited by Marisa Torrieri |