More chipsets to marry Android

GURGAON, INDIA: Customized mainly around ARM processor, Aricent is working out with other chipset vendors to sync Android operating system with their chipset and enhance the user experience on different devices.

“Till date Android is basically considered to be a mobile operating system. It is not tailored for large devices. Now there are various operators, device manufacturers and chipset vendors who have approached us and are exploring possibility to use Android OS on different other devices,” said Sajal Gupta, vice president - Business Development, Aricent.

Acer has already launched netbook on Android platform. There are talks that Dell is also working on Android powered netbooks.

The more fascinating development is that, as per Aricent, device manufacturers are exploring possibility to extend the use of Android OS for car entertainment and hybrid television. In high-end cars, most of the entertainment systems are embedded in one central device and in these devices Android has the potential to make its entry.

“Chipset in mobile phones have limited processing power because of issues like size and power back-up. As you move to large size form factor, the size and power capacity increases but Android so far is not optimized to give user experience beyond mobile phones,” said Gupta.

“With new chipset and device manufacturers showing their interest to develop new devices using Android, there are high chances that we may see presence of Android on many devices, apart from mobile phones and netbooks,” he added.

Gupta pointed out that the benefit of using Android is that it brings down the cost of device and there are various features like harmonious sync with cloud based application and Internet environment of Android which are capable of adding value to the function of a device.

The demand for developing Android is also coming from telecom operators, more from foreign operators than Indian telecom service providers.

“There are operators who have seen loyalty of customers with a particular device. Operators are interested in exploring options available through Android. In US, Verizon iCant ad campaign is an example of it. Indian operators are evaluating Android option and things will move faster once mobile number portability and 3G services are in,” added Gupta.