Google Phone

While the cosy group press releases might indicate otherwise, and Google’s assertions of a verbal compatibility contract attempt to sooth the troubled brows of interoperability advocates, don’t doubt that each member of the Open Handset Alliance is in the Android game for their own progression.  Latest cellular casualty is Qualcomm, who have this week suffered in a business-damaging patent dispute with fellow OHA member Broadcom.  The California ruling - that until January 2009 Qualcomm can continue to sell certain wireless chips that infringe three of its semiconductor rival’s patents, together with an immediate injunction on some WCDMA chips in its range - will see the company pay royalties while similarly hurrying to develop non-contentious products for existing clients.

“While Qualcomm will attempt to obtain further relief and clarity from the court on certain aspects of its order, the inability to obtain such relief will have an immediate short-term impact as handset customers transition to new designs for WCDMA products” Paul Jacobs, Chief Executive, Qualcomm

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