OPhone
Encyclopedia
OPhone is a mobile operating system
running on the Linux kernel
. It is based on technologies initially developed by Android Inc., a firm later purchased by Google
, and work done by the Open Handset Alliance
. It has been modified for local Chinese markets by China Mobile
's OPhone Software Developers Network.
software platform developed by China Mobile and based on the Android operating system developed by Google
. OPhone is based on open source software and mobile internet technologies. For end-users, OPhone aims to provide cheap, low frills, entry-level smartphone access and a limited mobile internet experience using China Mobile
's proprietary TD-SCDMA
network, and its GSM network.
China Mobile recently released the 2.0 version of the SDK for public use. According to a Google translated version of China Mobile's release, this iteration may include support for the Windows Mobile
API framework.
As of April 2010 around 600 apps have been developed specifically for OPhones.
Mobile operating system
A mobile operating system, also known as a mobile OS, mobile software platform or a handheld operating system, is the operating system that controls a mobile device or information appliance—similar in principle to an operating system such as Windows, Mac OS X, or Linux distributions that controls a...
running on the Linux kernel
Linux kernel
The Linux kernel is an operating system kernel used by the Linux family of Unix-like operating systems. It is one of the most prominent examples of free and open source software....
. It is based on technologies initially developed by Android Inc., a firm later purchased by Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
, and work done by the Open Handset Alliance
Open Handset Alliance
The Open Handset Alliance is a consortium of 84 firms to develop open standards for mobile devices. Member firms include Google, HTC, Sony, Dell, Intel, Motorola, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, T-Mobile, Nvidia, and Wind River Systems.-History:The OHA was...
. It has been modified for local Chinese markets by China Mobile
China Mobile
China Mobile Limited is a Chinese state-owned telecommunication company that provides mobile voice and multimedia services through its nationwide mobile telecommunications network, the largest of its kind in the world...
's OPhone Software Developers Network.
History
OPhone is a Linux-based smartphoneSmartphone
A smartphone is a high-end mobile phone built on a mobile computing platform, with more advanced computing ability and connectivity than a contemporary feature phone. The first smartphones were devices that mainly combined the functions of a personal digital assistant and a mobile phone or camera...
software platform developed by China Mobile and based on the Android operating system developed by Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
. OPhone is based on open source software and mobile internet technologies. For end-users, OPhone aims to provide cheap, low frills, entry-level smartphone access and a limited mobile internet experience using China Mobile
China Mobile
China Mobile Limited is a Chinese state-owned telecommunication company that provides mobile voice and multimedia services through its nationwide mobile telecommunications network, the largest of its kind in the world...
's proprietary TD-SCDMA
TD-SCDMA
Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access or UTRA/UMTS-TDD 1.28 Mcps Low Chip Rate , is an air interface found in UMTS mobile telecommunications networks in China as an alternative to W-CDMA. Together with TD-CDMA, it is also known as UMTS-TDD or IMT 2000 Time-Division .The term...
network, and its GSM network.
Software development
China Mobile consecutively released the 1.0 and 1.5 versions of the OPhone SDK for public use.China Mobile recently released the 2.0 version of the SDK for public use. According to a Google translated version of China Mobile's release, this iteration may include support for the Windows Mobile
Windows Mobile
Windows Mobile is a mobile operating system developed by Microsoft that was used in smartphones and Pocket PCs, but by 2011 was rarely supplied on new phones. The last version is "Windows Mobile 6.5.5"; it is superseded by Windows Phone, which does not run Windows Mobile software.Windows Mobile is...
API framework.
As of April 2010 around 600 apps have been developed specifically for OPhones.
Future plan
Although there are rumours that China Mobile and Borqs will discontinue the development of OPhone, China Mobile and Borqs will stick to the OPhone development, OPhone 3.0 is the next release, which is expected to be released at the end of 2011 or 2012Q1.External links
- China Mobile Home Page
- OPhone Software Developers Network: Ophone 1.5 SDK
- China Mobile Close To Launching Android Based 3G Phone Moco News.net (January 9, 2009)
- China Mobile Ophone hopes China Daily (September 1, 2009)
- China Mobile's OMS 2.0 Android OS supports Windows Mobile APIs. What's that? Mobile Tech World (February 2, 2010)