“Android is a simple platform and we will develop lots of applications for our users,” said Yu Mingduo, CFO of Mediatek, Taiwan’s biggest semiconductor designer, adding that the company will offer its Android solution in mid 2010.
Although Mediatek and Microsoft will jointly release Windows Mobile 6.5, market feedback showed that the limited popularity of Mediatek’s Windows Mobile solution was worrying.
HTC, a major Windows Mobile-based cell phone manufacturer, became a stock leader in Taiwan thanks to the hot sales of Windows Mobile-based products. This was one major reason why Mediatek chose Windows Mobile platform. Meanwhile, Windows Mobile was much more mature compared with Google’s Android.
However, one year later, promoted by leading cell phone makers including Samsung, HTC, LG and Motorola, Android-based cell phone seems more like a pioneer.
“Motorola will release at least 20 Android-powered cell phones in 2010, and bring the price of Android devices to below 2,000 yuan (around 293 U.S. dollars),” said an official with Motorola China, adding that before Microsoft release its Windows Mobile 7, all the company’s mid-to-high end cell-phones will be Android-powered.
Currently, Android has over 20,000 apps. That figure was only a little higher than 10,000 last September, and has been growing at a speed of 4,000 per month.
Mediatek turned to Android not only because of customers’ preference, but because the company will be able to copy iPhone’s operation mode with the help of Android OS.
With Android, Mediatek can establish its online application store more easily, said Yu.
China is expected to have much more 3G users in 2010, and cell phones customized by telecom operators will enter the mainstream. China’s three mobile operators, China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom, have all okayed Android-powered cell phones.
Mediatek will employ 1,000 R&D staff in 2010, and most of them will focus on cell phones, said Yu.
Original here (People’s Daily).
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