Sony Ericsson joins Open Handset Alliance

Sony Ericsson has joined the Open Handset Alliance (OHA) dedicated to developing Google’s Android platform, along with thirteen other mobile phone and chip manufacturers.

The Swedish manufacturer has joined the OHA and will launch an Android-based phone in mid-2009.

Thirteen other mobile phone and chip manufacturers also joined the OHA yesterday (December 9) – including Vodafone, Toshiba and Asus – in a bid to support the Android platform developed by Google.

Sony Ericsson will join manufacturers HTC, Motorola, Samsung and LG as another member of the group. HTC is, so far, the only major mobile manufacturer to bring an Android-based phone to market.

Sony Ericsson currently makes phones based on the Symbian and Windows Mobile platforms and had previously had turned down Google's initial invite to join the OHA to concentrate on its own development plans.

Ericsson head of mobile platforms, Robert Puskaric, said: ‘Android is set to become a significant application framework for mobile phones.’

By joining, OHA members commit themselves to developing applications and services for mobile phones and handsets using the Android platform, or designing Android-compatible mobile devices.