Android’s OHA garners big name support

December 11, 2016

The Open Handset Alliance (OHA) signed up 14 new members this week, including Sony Ericsson and Vodafone.

This is good news for the OHA – the supporters’ club for Google’s Android operating system.

It shows that the assocation is starting to win support from Europe-based partners, who have traditionally backed Android’s rival operating system, Symbian.

Google hopes that Android will develop into a key competitor for Apple’s iPhone handset, which increased sales by over 300% in the third quarter.

In addition to Vodafone and Sony Ericsson, companies pledging their support for Android included technology firm ARM Holdings, computer makers Asustek and Toshiba, and GPS manufacturer Garmin.

A total of 47 companies now belong to the OHA. Very few big names in the mobile telecoms sector – Apple and Nokia aside – are now outside the OHA.

Earlier members include chip makers Intel and Qualcomm, and mobile phone makers Samsung, HTC, and Motorola.

Ericsson’s Robert Puskaric said he expects Android to become a significant application framework for mobile phones.