PanAsianBiz

Korean Developers Lukewarm about Google Award for Android Platform

by admin on November 13th, 2007

Google said it will give $10 million to 50 teams of developers who can build mobile phone applications for its Android Platform.

The Android platform is similar to MS Windows for PCs but free and more open.

Samsung, LG and Pantech of South Korea make up one of the largest pools of mobile software engineers in the industry.

The feeling in Korea - "if it does not bring money to us (Google), we will revoke the license at any time."

Korea's Samsung Electronics and LG Electronices are among the 33 firms around the world that have teamed up with the Android project with a goal to "market innovative new products faster and at much lower costs."

Google promises togive from $25K to $275K to developers whose applications are chosen in May 2008 by a panel of judges.

NTT DoCoMo (Japan), Mobile China, Sprint (the United States) and T-Mobile (Germany) are founding members of the Google Android Alliance.

A plan to deploy the first Google Phones in Europe and North America in the second half of next year is in the works.

Korean companies likely fear the open software programs for mobile phones will cut into their profits - email, games and mobile internet.

What do you think of Google's program? 

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POSTED IN: South Korea