Google releases Android as opensource .

Google which previously conducted Android developer challenge now has released Android as an open source for developers to modify and add new features to the existing one's.

It is a complete end-to-end software platform that can be adapted to work on any number of hardware configurations.

The phones, which cost 179 dollars, 20 dollars cheaper than the iPhone 3G, go on sale in the United States on Wednesday, in Britain in early November and in other European countries served by telecom carrier T-Mobile in early 2009.

Open source project link

Source : AFP

Android Developer Challenge

Android -->An Open Handset Alliance Project

Andriod is basically an open source mobile operating system (or a mobile platform) which is to be used in Google's mobile phone.

A prototype of Android mobile phone platform would be demonstrated next week at the world's biggest wireless fair.

Google plans to deploy phones and services using the Android platform commercially in the second half of this year.

Google established an alliance of more than 30 carriers, handset makers, Software firms and chipmakers in November to develop Android, which is based on open-source software and designed to make the Internet work better on mobile phones.

The Android Developer Challenge will award $10 million to developers who build great apps for Android.

Research firm Strategy Analytics has estimated that Android will be in 2 percent of smartphones this year.

Hope Android makes it well in the market ...

Sources: Google , Reuters