Here are two short clip demonstrating the power of open source:

I was wow’ed to say the least (and not just from the “womans” voice)

iSkoot, a leading provider of Web communication services made for mobile phones, today announced that its mobile application, iSkoot for Skype, is launching in the Android Market, Google’s new mobile application store. iSkoot for Skype is the first VoIP solution available in Google’s Android Market.

Via MarketWach

Being that the T-Mobile G1 launched officially today in the US of A, it makes sense that the phone’s marketplace for applications would open its doors as well. A recent post over at the Android Developers Blog has affirmed that users can now indulge in over 50 apps, and moreover, it has laid out details surrounding the process for getting your own app in there. Beginning on Monday, prospective devs will be forced to “register and pay a one time $25 application fee” in order to ensure that they’re “authenticated and responsible for their apps.” After that, the programs will be “made available to users without further validation or approval.” Starting in Q1, developers will be able to distribute paid apps in addition to free apps, and similar to Apple’s revenue model, devs will get 70% of the revenue, though it should be noted that Google won’t be taking a percentage of the remainder; apparently, it all goes to settling bills with the carriers (T-Mobile’s really insistent about getting some dues for app bandwidth usage, isn’t it?) and payment processing systems. Go at it, you eager developer you — we fully expect a gratis app showing off your handiwork to emerge on the 27th.

Via Android Developers Blog

Carrier adds Memphis and Tampa to 3G network with Washington, DC, on T-Mobile’s radar by the end of the year. T-Mobile plans to have 120 major U.S. cities on the network as it plans the rollout of its G1 smart phone, the first mobile device to feature Google’s Android mobile operating system.

[via eweek]

Motorola has been showing spec sheets and images of the phone to carriers around the world in the past two months and is likely to introduce the handset in the U.S. sometime in the second quarter of 2009, according to people familiar with Motorola’s plans. Building a phone based on the highly anticipated Android operating system is part of Motorola’s effort to revive a loss-making handset division that has forfeited market share amid a drought of bestselling phones. Motorola stock, which on Oct. 17 rose a penny to 5.62, is hovering near a 16-year low.

[via businessweek]

Motorola’s slick hardware + Android os = potential greatness

In a recent interview with the BBC, Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer spoke at length about the search industry and how the current ecomonic downtime could have an impact on technology.

As the interview progressed to mobile search, Ballmer was asked about his thoughts on Android and what effect it will have on the Windows Mobile platform:

“You’ve got to remember Android is version one….and it looks like version one,” he said.

“They’ve got one handset maker, we’ve got 55. They’re available through one operator, we’ve got 175.”

Ballmer also noted that an open-source solution would not be attractive to phone manufacturers predicting that Windows Mobile would stay ahead of the likes of Blackberry, Apple’s iPhone and Google Android for some time to come.

[via BBC.co.uk]

Dear Microsoft: Keep dreaming

The G1 is available for free on T-Mobile Combi and Flext price plans from £40 a month, including unlimited fast mobile internet browsing powered by T-Mobile’s award-winning network. Combi 35 offers 800 minutes and unlimited texts while Flext 40 gives up to 1,250 minutes or up to 2,500 texts or any mix of the two.

Looks like my U.S patriotism is beginning to cost me.

Via press release

Many people have all their contacts synced with Microsoft Exchange, however with the T-Mobile G1 contacts are only synced with your Google address book, leaving it difficult for those who do not use Gmail. There is now a free downloadable sync tool from a company called wrike, that allows you to sync your contacts right from the Microsoft Exchange Server.

The way i see it, it’s just one more reason to steer clear of the dreaded windows mobile.

Link

The Android Developer Challenge is now complete. See The ADC Gallery of the top 50 applications, including winners of $275,000, winners of $100,000, and other finalists.

Gallery

A few weeks ago we found out that Motorola (NYSE: MOT) was looking to boost the number of people working on an Android phone. According to a new Motorola job posting, it is working on a “new Android Social Networking SmartPhone.” Cue dramatic music.

An eagle-eyed reader of The Android Guys blog spotted this job posting and saw fit to e-mail it on Over The Air’s favorite blog concerning all things Android. It reads:

As a Senior Staff Interaction Designer, you will be responsible for leading and actively participating in the concept, design, documentation and development of user interfaces for our mobile products including our new Android Social Networking SmartPhone. You’ll lead brainstorming and work sessions, usability and innovation reviews and other forums of design development. In addition to your primary responsibility in the delivery of great design, you will also be expected to mentor other designers, bringing your personal strengths to the rest of the team.

It’s one thing for Motorola to develop a phone based on Android. Given its membership status in the Open Handset Alliance, it is almost expected. But to call it a Social Networking Smartphone is something else altogether.

How would it work? Would it be loaded with mobile versions of MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, and others? Would it have multimedia sharing capabilities built in, such as photo uploading services? What about sharing music, or other content? Mobile phones are used more and more for social networking. Building one solely for that purpose is an interesting idea, and one that has potential.

Keep the good ideas coming, Motorola.

[via informationweek]