Google plans to enter wireless market

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Nov. 5 (UPI) -- California-based search engine Google Inc. revealed its bid to break into the wireless market, announcing plans to create open standards for mobile phones.

In its announcement Monday, Google said it, along with T-Mobile, HTC, Qualcomm, Motorola and others collaborated to develop Android through the Open Handset Alliance, a multinational alliance of technology and mobile industry leaders.

Through Android, developers, wireless operators and handset manufacturers would be better poised to bring innovative products faster to market at a lower cost, Google said in a news release.

Thirty-four companies formed the Open Handset Alliance, which seeks to grow technologies that will lower the cost of developing and distributing mobile devices and services. The Android platform consists of an operating system, middleware, user-friendly interface and applications, Google said.

Consumers should expect the first phones based on Android to be available in the second half of 2008.