Liveblog: Google's Open Handset Alliance Announcement

Okay, it's official: The Googlephone exists. Or doesn't, actually--but eventually, lots of Googlephones might. Google has announced the Open Handset Alliance, a group of thirty phone-related companies (including Motorola, HTC, Qualcomm, and T-Mobile) which have pledged support for a new cell phone platform called Android.

I'm sitting on hold as I write this for a conference call on all this to begin, and once it does, I'll begin reporting on what we learn...

And here we go.

Google communications VP Elliott Schrage is introducing Google's Eric Schmidt and Sergey Brin, plus honchos from other companies involved in the announcement. He's reading SEC boilerplate about forward-looking comments, blah blah blah.

Here's Eric Schmidt. He's very, very happy with this announcement.

Context: 3 billion mobile phone users in world, more than PCs or landlines.

Google has a two-point strategy: Apps like Google Maps on phones through handset partnerships.

Point two is a whole new mobile experience, which will come through Android. 33 companies are announcing this open platform, with an OS, middleware, user interface, and apps. It's being offered through the most open license.

It's incredibly important to say this isn't an announcement of a Gphone. They want lots of Android-based phones. Google thinks that the lack of a collaborative effort has made things tough.

The key challenge has been the UI--mobile development has been costly, but users want the same apps they know from the PC-based Web.

Android is unprecedented. It'll let mobile companies provide more flexible solutions for users, with cheaper and more compelling offerings. "Much much better" access to standard applications...

Rene Oberman, CEO of Deutsche Telecom (parent company of T-Mobile), takes over. He's saying that T-Mobile is committed to the Open Handset Alliance and to Android. It'll help users mobilize their social networks and mobile experience. They plan to release a T-Mobile Android device in 2008. The platform will allow for a "better-than-Internet" experience. Details will be disclosed in the coming months. Cool stuff is coming relating to user-generated content, social networking, and things that haven't been invented yet. Endless opportunity for engagement will be possible. Win-win for T-Mobile and its customers. OHA will propel T-Mobile's strategy. Thank you.

Here's HTC CEO Peter Chou, saying pretty much the same things that Oberman did. HTC and Google both want to give users new value through a compelling phone-based Internet experience. The Android platform will allow that. It's a good opportunity for HTC to expand its portfolio. First HTC Android phone will appear in second half of 2008, with more to follow. HTC is honored. Thank you.

Next up: Paul Jacobs, CEO of Qualcomm. He's pleased that T-Mobile is involved. Qualcomm has always been committed to innovation. Android will help deliver rich media experiences to users. Qualcomm has been working to make the platform happen and to make it work well with Qualcomm's industry-leading chipsets. An upcoming Qualcomm chip will be power-efficient and fast, with GPS and other cool features. Upcoming phones will incorporate CE and PC features, allowing for location, media, user-generated content, and social networking. Qualcomm is supported to technologies that support multiple carriers. The company has a long history of deep and lasting partnerships. They're enabling a new ecosystem with Google and others. They're looking forward to helping make it happen.

Here's Motorola CEO Ed Zander. He remembers when the PC came along a couple of decades ago. It's exciting that Motorola is part of this announcement. It's bigger than any one company--it's about open standards, open brands, etc. It'll deliver rich experiences faster than the market has done before with a rich portfolio of applications. Motorola has been a long-time leader. Closed development has stifled innovation. Collaboration will allow for a better way. And yes, Motorola is pleased to be part of this initiative to develop compelling and seamless experiences.

Here's Bill Wang of China Mobile. He's congratulating everybody. China Mobile is excited to be part of it. They believe that an open and advanced platform is key to delivering the best experience, and to widespread adoption of mobile phones in China. They share the vision of the Alliance. China Mobile has participated in past standards such as Vcast. It'll work with handset manufacturers to develop new phones to benefit its 340 million subscribers. Thanks to Google and Andy Rubin for developing this powerful platform. Good night from Beijing.

Google cofounder Sergey Brin has some thoughts: He's excited. A decade ago he was in an undergraduate cubicle, and was able to build incredible tools thanks to open standards like Linux, GNU, Python, and Apache. They let Google do great things and distribute them to the whole world. That's what we're looking at today--Android will let people innovate on mobile devices. And today's phones are more powerful than the "big iron" he used a decade ago. He can't wait to see what the next generation of innovators will do.

Questions from people on the call:

Will Android mean that handset developers in the OHA will no longer use other platforms? HTC's Chou says that it'll drive the whole industry to be more open, so it's not giving up other platforms. Motorola's Zander says it's been committed to open standards in the past with Linux. It has commitments to other companies, but the OHA ties into the open direction its wanted to go. Qualcomm's Jacobs says that OHA will "grow the pie" and that there's room for lots of competition.

Om Malik asks a question that's fuzzy on my phone--I can't make it out.

A question from Kevin Delaney of the Wall Street Journal: Will there be an ad-driven Google-branded phone? Andy Rubin of Google says that Android will deliver a desktop-like browsing experience, but he doesn't see an ad-supported Android phone.

Another question about the Gphone. Rubin says that the company isn't announcing a Gphone, but if such a phone were to exist, Android would be the perfect platform.

A question from Germany: Did Google ask companies like Microsoft, Apple and RIM to participate? If so, what did they say? Andy Rubin says that the OHA was designed to all kinds of companies could join. It's not a closed alliance, it's an open one.

Another question: Is this just for smartphones, or for entry-level phones, too? HTC's Chou gives a somewhat vague answer. "There's a lot more we can do in the future." Qualcomm's Jacobs says the company is working on chipsets that'll drive smartphones into the mass market under $200.

A question about how this stuff will be different from current phones. The Android platform has a full-power browser, so you won't have to shoehorn apps onto a phone. If they work well on the Web, they'll work well on your phone. Lots of implications there for games, social networking, video, and other categories.

A question about whether Android will allow for purely software-based phones, and the name "Android"--it feels lifeless. No plans for softphones. And the name Android came from Andy Rubin's startup which was acquired by Google.

Another Gphone question! Will there be one? Google isn't announcing one today, but if it did, Android would be the perfect platform. Think of the OHA as enabling thousands of Googlephones.

Questioner asks if that's a "no" to the Googlephone. "We're not announcing a Googlephone today.

A question about how the Android OS will relate to Linux. Andy Rubin says more technical details will come out within the next week. Is it Linux based? Yes.

A questioner notes that Eric Schmidt is on Apple's board. So why is Google doing a phone platform to compete with the iPhone. And will it be possible to build a device with a big screen and full keyboard? Schmidt says he's a happy iPhone user, and that many Android devices will do new things that nobody has done before. Andy Rubin says that Android needs a 200-mhz CPU, and is otherwise very flexible.

A question about ramping up the Android developer community. And will Android fragment things, since it's yet another platform to develop for? Andy Rubin says that unlike other platforms, Android is open. Eric Schmidt reiterates this point--anyone can modify it, and competitors can use it. The test will be whether developers and applications emerge. They're announcing the platform now to give developers a head start.

A question about the minimum set of capabilities for Android. Is there a baseline that carriers must support? Nope. People can do whatever they want with it.

A question from Reuters: How many phones with the new platform does T-Mobile expect to sell? It's too early to say.

PC Magazine asks a question: Will carriers be able to build locked-down, closed Android devices? Andy Rubin says to read the Apache software license. But yes, companies can build locked-down devices. Eric Schmidt says it's possible but unlikely they'll do so.

A question from Information Week about networks: How does this relate to Google's interest in the 700-MHz wireless spectrum auction? Eric Schmidt says they're two different initiatives. Android will run well on all networks.

New York Times asks a question: Google has been able to make money from ads without partnering with carriers. With the OHA change the dynamics and require Google to negotiate revenue-sharing deals for ads on content? How will it impact business models in general? Google is likely to want to do deals, since it'll result in a better ecosystem. Android doesn't require this, but it's highly likely it'll happen.

Question from the Daily Telegraph: The iPhone is coming out on Friday in the UK. Is this announcement an attempt to preempt excitement over it? Andy Rubin says that Android will enable innovation from many companies.

USA Today asks another Gphone question. He thinks that Google is leaving the door open for one. What's the deal? Google doesn't preannounce products, but it doesn't want to close any doors. A Gphone requires the right OS, developers, etc. Think of thousands of Android phones as giving you lots of choice.

Follow-up from USA Today: What does this mean for consumers? In the past, developers haven't had much access to mobile phones. Android gives them the opportunity to build for phones that'll ship in 2008. Google believes they'll build amazing stuff you've never thought of before.

Laptop Magazine asks Andy Rubin about the look and feel of the Android platform. What'll it be like? Rubin says it's amazing and top-notch. Stay tuned--when the SDK is announced in a week, we'll see more. They'll be soliciting input from the community on the UI. Google will provide hosted services to help developers distribute their stuff.

Final question, from Bloomberg. Is it a coincidence that Google announced the OpenSocial social networking platform last week and this one today? Will there be developer overlap? Schmidt says it's a coincidence, but OpenSocial apps will run extremely well on Android devices. They'll get the benefit of mobility.

And that's the conference call. Lots of potentially exciting news, tons of buzzwords, not much detail. More thoughts later--and I'd love to hear yours.

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