Droids set to invade Holland

Google released its Android platform a few months ago but it wasn't untill last week that you could actually get your hands on an Android phone in the Netherlands. Telecom provider T-Mobile, who also has the exclusive rights to Apple's iPhone in the Netherlands is the first provider to put the G1 on the shelves in Q1 this year.

Aside from its slick looks, one of the driving forces behind the iPhone success has been the option to create applications yourself and no doubt this will even be more true for the Droid as Android will be an Open Source platform. Marketing Director Bart Weijermans of T-Mobile Netherlands said that the Android will be a force to be reckoned with on the mobile market because it is widely supported by the Open Handset Alliance, which can boast a host of Telecom providers. Last one to join the alliance was Vodafone early December 2008.

Small wonder T-Mobile launched last week with a Developers party in the 'De Zwijger ' warehouse in Amsterdam. About 250 software developers and companies were present at the afternoon session which lasted untill way past bedtime. To spice up the launch of the Android, T-Mobile organised a development contest. Untill january 26 developers can submit applications to Android DevCamp and win a trip to San Francisco. The winning entry also receives the opportunity to ride along with the national Android marketing campaign of T-Mobile.

Just like development of Native Applications for the iPhone, the main skill required to fiddle with the Droid is Java. To get started download the Android SDK here.

Google G1 Android

Yesterday Google presented it's iPhone competitor, the G1, which basically is a very ugly HTC phone and is running on shabby T-Mobile network. Nothing spectacular.

The phone features a 480 x 320 HVGA display, sports 3G, GPS, has a (lousy) 3.1-megapixel camera, supports up to 8GB of memory (of unspecified format), and batteries powering 5 hours of talktime with 130 hours of standby. It doesn't do video capture, stereo bluetooth, requires a Gmail account (fortunately I have one since I use blogger) and won't be sold at stores outside of a 2-5 mile radius of T-Mobile's 3G coverage areas (which basically limits the market severely)

And yet we all do believe it will actually be competition for the iPhone and a possible threat to other large phone-factories all because of it's OS. It's operating system is called Android and is Open Source software. It's kind of a revival of the Mac - Windows - Linux battle we had in pc-space. Open Source means it allows you to put new applications into your phone for free, instead of doing some heavy account upgrading.

Google Android has the potential to take on any competition, or rather facilitate competition as it allows anyone to quickly start your own (e.g.) Nokia. The only thing you need to do is to design a slick phone and put the Android in it.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile launched their SL island on the CeBit show in Germany.

The 2 islands share a common "tropical isle" theme, but serve 2 different functions. First, there's the information and events island - the place to go to find out stuff. Then there's the beach island, where you can go to chill out, dance like a loon or laze in the Sun. The second island is largely unadorned.