Google to delay open availability of Android Honeycomb (US)
Google has announced that it will limit the access of its latest version of the Android OS which has been designed for use on tablets, stating that it is not yet ready to be altered and customized for a variety of devices.
The version 3.0, also known as Honeycomb has been built from the ground up to be optimized for tablets, and is a step-change away from v2.x which is optimized for smartphones.
The decision to delay the public release of Honeycomb will not affect device-making partners such as Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Dell Inc., HTC Corp. and Acer Inc., which are expected to soon start releasing new tablets built with the software. Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. already launched the Xoom tablet last month.
Android head Andy Rubin confirmed that the company does have concerns about some handset manufacturers releasing Android based handsets that were not ideally optimized for the OS. A consumer buying such a low-cost phone could be put off the Android platform in future.
Google stated that it remains committed to providing Android as an open platform across many device types, adding that it will make Honeycomb available as open-source software as soon as it is ready.
Third-party developers that make games and other applications for the Android operating system also won’t be affected because they do not need access to the source code to build their products.
Motorola, Polycom to extend telepresence on Motorola Xoom
Motorola Mobility Holdings has collaborated with Polycom, a video and voice communications systems provider to deliver Polycom enterprise-class, HD personal telepresence on Motorola Xoom tablets.
The standards-based Polycom telepresence video application on MOTOROLA XOOM tablets will deliver improved enterprise collaboration and productivity by enabling users to easily connect and share content virtually anywhere via one-to-one or group video experiences.
Motorola Xoom features a dual core processor and 10.1-inch widescreen HD display, a front-facing 2-megapixel camera for video conferencing, as well as a rear-facing 5-megapixel camera that captures HD video. Desktop accessories for Motorola Xoom include a Standard Dock and Speaker HD Dock.
The Polycom UC Intelligent Core infrastructure platform allows enterprise customers like Motorola to extend enterprise visual communications to mobile users without additional network configuration. Motorola Xoom is available at Verizon Wireless as a 3G/Wi-Fi enabled device with a free upgrade to LTE for consumers in the second quarter of this year.
Motorola Xoom Wi-Fi will be available with more than seven retailers across the United States by the end of March. Polycom telepresence for Motorola devices is planned for availability in the second half.
Motorola Mobility to launch Xoom tablet Wi-Fi edition in US
Motorola Mobility Holdings will be launching Motorola Xoom Wi-Fi edition tablet in the US on 27th March.
Xoom features a 10.1-inch widescreen HD tablet with Android 3.0 (Honeycomb), a 1GHz dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM. It supports a Beta of Adobe Flash Player, 10.2 downloadable from Android Market, enabling the delivery of Flash based web content including videos, casual games and internet applications.
Motodev, Motorola’s developer support programme that enables tablet and smartphone features, enables Motorola Xoom to access more than 150,000 applications within the Android Market as well as the increasing number of applications optimized directly for the Android 3.0 OS.
Amazon.com, Best Buy, Costco, RadioShack, Sam’s Club (select locations), Staples and Walmart will be offering the tablet, through both online and retail store channels. In addition, the Motorola Xoom Wi-Fi will be available to commercial IT channels and regional retailers through a distribution agreement with business process services company Synnex, and regional carriers through mobile handset distributor Brightpoint. The MSRP for Motorola Xoom Wi-Fi with 32GB of memory will be US$599.
Motorola files patent lawsuit against TiVo
Motorola Mobility Holdings has filed a patent lawsuit against TV recording outfit TiVo, claiming that it owns the rights to the digital-video recording technology used in the company’s ‘time warp’ devices.
According to reports, the complaint claims that Alviso-based TiVo has infringed on multiple patents related to DVRs, including some that were developed in the mid-1990s — more than two years before TiVo was founded — by a group of engineers whose company was later purchased by a Motorola subsidiary.
As per reports, Motorola’s suit also referenced ongoing legal action TiVo filed in 2009 against Verizon Communications Inc. offered over DVR services through Motorola set-top boxes.
Motorola is seeking to have TiVo’s patents declared invalid and also an affirmation that Motorola set-top boxes do not violate TiVo’s patents.
Motorola Mobility launches as independent company
Motorola Mobility Holdings, Inc. (Motorola Mobility) today announced that it has completed its previously announced spin-off from Motorola, Inc. and its shares will begin trading this morning on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker symbol “MMI.”
Motorola Mobility is comprised of two industry-leading global technology businesses. The Mobile Devices business is an innovative provider of smartphone devices designed to fit every lifestyle. In 2010, the Mobile Devices business launched 23 smartphones globally, including the highly successful family of DROIDâ„¢ by Motorola devices as well as BRAVOâ„¢, DEFYâ„¢, FLIPSIDEâ„¢, MILESTONEâ„¢ and others. The Home business is one of the largest providers of digital set-top boxes and end-to-end video solutions. Motorola Mobility will leverage the capabilities of both the Mobile Devices and Home businesses to deliver innovative smartphones, tablets, set-tops and other converged devices as well as content delivery and management, and interactive cloud-based services to consumers in the home and on the go.
“We are pleased that Motorola Mobility has reached this important milestone. After more than two years of planning, today we begin operating as a financially strong, independent company trading on the New York Stock Exchange,” said Sanjay Jha, chairman and CEO of Motorola Mobility. “We are well-positioned to build on the strong momentum we have in smartphones and end-to-end video solutions and to take advantage of opportunities resulting from the convergence of media, mobility, computing and the Internet.”
“With more than 20,000 employees globally, 24,500 patents granted and pending, and a highly recognizable brand, we are able to deliver cutting-edge devices with differentiated software experiences. In addition, we will continue to work aggressively to capitalize on the next generation of converged devices and experiences to provide consumers with more intuitive and personalized services,” Jha added.
As chairman, Jha serves on the Motorola Mobility Board of Directors with Jon E. Barfield, William R. Hambrecht, Keith A. Meister, Thomas J. Meredith, Daniel A. Ninivaggi, James R. Stengel, Anthony J. Vinciquerra and Andrew J. Viterbi.
Jha and members of the Motorola Mobility management team will ring The Opening Bellâ„¢ at the NYSE today in honor of the initiation of trading of Motorola Mobility shares.
Motorola, Inc. stockholders of record as of the close of business on Dec. 21, 2010, the record date for the distribution, received one share of Motorola Mobility common stock for every eight shares of Motorola, Inc. common stock they held.
