DATE

COMPANY

CARRIER

NEWS EVENT

2009-12-15

Android Market crossed the 20,000 apps. mark. Took 10 months after the first Android phone came out (2008) for it to hit the 10,000 mark (9/2009). It took only 3 months to double that figure. Certainly people are writing apps for Android at an accelerated pace.

2009-12-10

FET (Far Eastone Telecommuni cations)

(Announced)

There will be 20 to 30 new Android based phones by the first half of 2010 from several Taiwan manufacturers such as Acer, HTC, Asustek, and others. This statement was made by Roger Chen, vice president of Far Eastone Telecommunications (FET), a cellphone network operator in Taiwan. There will also be an Android app contest for the region specifically those in the Chinese language.

2009-12-09

(Tablet)

Camangi (Taiwan) WebStation 7" (800 x 480 pixels) tablet costing around $400. This is an Android based tablet and not a phone. It does accept optional 3G cellular network connectivity. Delivery is set for end of December 2009. Picture link.

2009-12-08

Outside U.S. (UK)

Acer A1 Liquid [Android 1.6] released for the UK market. 1st Android phone from Acer.

2009-12-07

(New App)

Google launch ‘Google Goggles’ a visual search application for Android that lets users get search results from pictures taken with their Android phones. It is now limited to visual search of over a billion images of landmark, book, artwork, places, wine, and logo. This is a free application from Google for Android.

Watch this 24 second video demo.

2009-11-28

(Announced)

Acer plan to launch 8 to 10 Android phones in 2010. Acer’s Aymar de Lencquesaing said “there is definitely momentum behind Android. The pace is faster than most would have anticipated one year ago."

2009-11-26 (Thanksgiving)

Lenovo

(Smartbook)

Lenovo announced an Android based Smartbook (laptop). CPU: ARM Snapdragon, 1 GHz. First notebooks running Android started  appearing around June 2009.

2009-11-26 (Thanksgiving)

Inbrics (Korea)

(MID)

Inbrics announced a new Android powered Media Internet Device (MID or smaller notebook). CPU: ARM Cortex A8, 800 MHz. Unit has a built in keyboard and an Organic-LED (OLED) 6” screen.

2009-11-24

(Android - Chrome OS)

Google co-founder Sergey Brin announced that Chrome OS and Android are likely to merge at some point in the future.

2009-11-18

Samsung T939 Behold II [Android 1.5] for T-Mobile released. This is T-Mobile’s 4th Android phone. Samsung’s 2nd Android phone (not counting Europe).

2009-11-17

ICD (Innovative Converged Device) US

(Tablet  but with 3G cellular options)

ICD Vega Tablet announced. CPU: Nvidia Tegra. Runs Android 2.0 (Eclair), 16 mm thick, 1.3 Mpixel webcam for video conferencing, and ambient light sensor. Comes with 3 screen sizes: 7”,  11”, and 15.6”. Picture link.

2009-11-07

Vobis Computer (Russia)

Outside U.S. (GSM)

Vobis Computer Zeus announced. 3.2” screen, 528 MHz CPU, 3 Megapixel  camera, and a slideout physical keyboard. Nothing spectacular.

2009-11-06

HTC Droid Eris for Verizon [Android 1.5] released to the public. Also the first Android phone for Verizon (released with Motorola DROID at the same time). Will have the ability to run Android 2.0 by January 2010.

2009-11-06

Motorola DROID for Verizon [Android 2.0] released to the public. First phone to run Android 2.0. First Android phone for Verizon. 2nd Motorola phone to run Android. Motorola Milestone is the GSM version of DROID available outside the U.S.

2009-11-03

(Announced)

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 "Rachael" announced. This will be Sony’s first Android phone. This phone has been rumored since July 2009. Now Sony made it official. Release date is expected to be April, 2010. Picture link.

2009-11-02

Motorola Cliq for T-Mobile available to the public. First Motorola phone to run Android. Highlight of this phone is the MOTOBLUR Android software. Its  primary function is to enable the user to receive various updates from a variety of sources such as Twitter, Facebook, and e-mail clients directly on their phone's main screen.

2009-11-01

Samsung SPH-m900 Moment (formerly IntinctQ) for Sprint released. 2nd Android phone for Sprint.

2009-10-28

(New app).

Google announced turn-by-turn GPS navigation system for Android 1.6 or above. Motorola DROID which is the first phone built with Android 2.0 to be able to run this new application. This application is unique compared to any other turn-by-turn GPS navigation system in that it also incorporate photos from Google’s Street View and Satellite View. It also uses voice recognition to do a Google search to places that you don’t have an address for. Example, you can simply say “Navigate to the museum with the King Tut exhibit in San Francisco” and this FREE Android app will figure it out for you. Don’t need specific address or go through Point-of-Interest (POI) list. Click here for a video demo.

2009-10-26

Android 2.0 SDK “Eclair” released.

2009-10-20

Barnes & Noble (US)

AT&T

Barnes & Noble release its Android based dedicated e-book reader, called the Nook. The device has a feature that distinguish it from Amazon's Kindle by having a small color touchscreen for control. It uses the same black and white electronic Ink or the EPD (electronic paper display) screen like the Kindle. 1st Android device for AT&T network.

2009-10-19

Spring Design (US)

Unknown

Spring Design’s Alex e-book reader running Android announced. Main feature is its dual screen, one e-ink or the EPD (electronic paper display) and a second smaller screen is for e-book control using a color touchscreen LCD.

2009-10-15

Android 1.6 SDK “Donut” released.

2009-10-12

(Resigned)

Genentech chairman Arthur D. Levinson resigned from Google’s Board of Director. He is also on the Board of Director for Apple. His departure came shortly after Google Chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt resigned from the board of Apple on August 3, 2009. The move came as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) was looking into whether Google and Apple violated antitrust laws by sharing common board members.

The New York Times article (Oct. 13, 2009).

2009-10-11

HTC Hero with Google [Android 1.5] for Sprint. First Android phone for the Sprint network.

2009-10-08

HTC (Taiwan)

Outside U.S. Vodafone (UK).

HTC Tattoo (formerly HTC Click) [Android 1.5].

2009-10-06

Gartner, Inc.

(Announced)

Gartner, Inc., a world's leading information technology research and advisory company predicted that the Android OS will be ahead of the iPhone, as well as Windows Mobile, and BlackBerry smartphones by 2012.

2009-09-25

RAmos (China)

(Tablet)

RAmos W7 Internet Tablet MID (Media Internet Device - smaller than notebook) announced. CPU: ARM, 4.8” (800 x 480) screen. Supports 720p High Definition video playback via HDMI output. Priced at $190 for 8 GB and $240 for 16 GB version.

2009-09-15

(France)

Wi-Fi access only.

Archos 5 Internet Media Tablet [Android 1.5] (without cellphone, Internet access via WiFi only). Comes with a 4.8" (800x480 resolution) touch screen, 720p High Definition video playback via HDMI output. 32 GB RAM and 500 GB hard drive. Ability to record video through its optional video recorder add-on (DVR station).

2009-09-07

Android Market crossed the 10,000 apps. mark. According to Androlib.com, an online version of the Android Market, 60% apps are free, and 40% are paid. 20% are games, and 60% of all apps are rated 4 stars or higher.

2009-08-05

HTC Magic “MyTouch 3G with Google” [Android 1.5] became available. T-Mobile’s 2nd Android phone.

2009-08-03

(Resigned)

Eric E. Schmidt, Google’s chief executive stepped down from the Apple’s Board of Director. The move came as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) was looking into whether Google and Apple violated antitrust laws by sharing common board members.

More info on this here.

2009-07-31

(FCC inquiry)

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has launched an inquiry into why Apple Inc. rejected Google Voice software for the iPhone. The inquiry also seeks information on how AT&T, the exclusive U.S. iPhone carrier, was consulted in the decision, if at all. (Also see below on 2009-07-07).

2009-07-29

HTC (Taiwan)

Outside U.S. T-Mobile (UK). .

HTC Hero “G2 Touch” for T-Mobile UK. This is similar to HTC Hero for Sprint in the U.S.

2009-07-07

(Rejection)

Apple told Google that it would reject Google Voice app for the iPhone. Read more about it here. (Also see above on 2009-07-31).

2009-07-06

Vobis Computer (Russia)

Outside U.S. (GSM Russia)

Highscreen PP5420 [Android 1.5] launched in Russia. Essentially an Android version of Mobinova Ice. Picture link.

2009-06-16

Outside U.S. T-Mobile (UK).

Huawei u8230 “Pulse” released. First Android phone by Huawei of China.

2009-06-02

(Netbook)

Acer Aspire One AOD250-1613 netbook announced. Will run both Android and Windows (dual boot). Based on Intel Atom (a first) instead of ARM friendly Android stack.

2009-06-02

(Announced)

The Acer press release included a statement from Jim Wong, president of IT Products Global Operation, Acer, saying, "The Android operating system offers incredibly fast wireless connection to the Internet; for this reason, Acer has decided to develop Android netbooks for added convenience to our customers."

2009-06

Android Market crossed the 5,000 apps. mark.

2009-05-04

(FTC inquiry)

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has launched an inquiry into whether the close ties between the boards of two of Apple and Google, amount to a violation of antitrust laws.

More info on this here.

2009-04-27

Samsung

Outside U.S.

Samsung i7500 “Galaxy” [Android 1.5] announced. Samsung’s first Android phone. Main feature is its capacitive AMOLED touchscreen. Being marketed outside the U.S.

2009-04-27

Google rolled out the Android 1.5 SDK (Software Development Kit) "Cupcake" for application developers.

2009-04-21

Skytone (China)

(Netbook)

Skytone Alpha 680 netbook announced. 1.2” (30 mm) thick, 1.5 lbs., 7” (800 x 480) screen, CPU: ARM11, 533 MHz.

2008-10-22

HTC Dream “Google G1” cellphone [Android 1.0] for T-Mobile. The world’s first Android cellphone. It took one year for the first Android phone to appear after Android OS became available.

2007-11-05

Google announced Android distribution with the founding of the Open Handset Alliance, a consortium of 50 hardware, software, and telecommunication companies devoted to advancing open standards for mobile devices. This announcement came just 5 months after the iPhone was released to the market.

Click here for a video on why Android was created.

2007-06-29

Apple released the iPhone. AT&T became the exclusive carrier for the iPhone.

(This entry is just to serve as reference point to the Android timeline. The iPhone does NOT run on the Android operating system. Android however competes directly against the iPhone).

2006-08-29

Apple announced that Google’s CEO, Eric E. Schmidt joins the Apple’s Board of Directors.

Note that this is one year after Google had purchased Android Inc.

This points out that it is inaccurate to say that Google stole the Smartphone idea from Apple. However it is more interesting to speculate that Apple iPhone idea could have been triggered as the result of Android Inc. being purchased by Google.

2005-07

Google purchased Android Inc., a 22 month old startup, based in Palo Alto, California, for an undisclosed sum. The original team continue working with Android under Google.

2003

Android was incorporated. Android Inc. was founded by Andy Rubin (co-founder of Danger), Rich Miner (co-founder of Wildfire Communications, Inc.), Nick Sears (once VP at T-Mobile), and Chris White (one of the first engineers at WebTV). Android has operated under a cloak of secrecy, so little was known about its work other than making software for mobile phones.

1990s-mid

(Handheld cellular phone)

Handheld cellular phone were made small enough and cheap enough to appeal to the average consumer. Cellphone sales start to take off.

1983

Fully automated cellular networks decreased the price of cellular equipment slightly, allowing the increased number of people to have cellular telephones installed in their cars. This was a permanent fixture in their cars that they cannot take it with them when they leave their cars.

It took Martin Cooper (see below) 10 years in bringing the portable handheld cellular telephone to the commercial service. The first unit was the Motorola DynaTAC, a one pound phone, costing approximately over $3,500. Handheld cellular phones were still large and extremely expensive making it a rarity.

1973-04-03

(Handheld cellular phone).

(Invented)

Martin Cooper, an Electrical Engineer and a researcher from Motorola made the first call on a prototype handheld cellular phone he invented. It weighs almost 2 lbs (1 kg). The first call was made to Dr. Joel S. Engel, head of research at Bell Labs and co-creator of cellular network in front of reporters and passers-by on a New York city street. This historic day fundamentally shift the way we make phone calls. This handheld cellular technology enables a person for the first time to make a phone call directly to another person instead of a place.

1971

(Cellular network)

(Created)

24 years after cellular telephone network service was first conceived in 1947, the technology was finally available for Richard Frenkiel and Dr. Joel S. Engel of Bell Labs to applied the necessary computers and electronics to make cellular telephone network a reality. Cellular technology allow the reuse of similar frequencies over smaller areas (each cell) making it possible to vastly expand the mobile telephone service and usage (now becoming cellular phone or cellphone usage).

1948

By 1948 mobile radio telephone service was available in almost 100 cities by mainly to commercial customers like  utility companies, truck fleet operators, and reporters. Only about 5,000 customers making about 30,000 calls per week. This was before cellular telephone network which made service limited to available channels/frequencies in a particular area.

1947

(Cellular network)

(Conceived)

Cellular telephone network service was first conceived by D.H. Ring at Bell Labs.

1946-06-17

A driver in Saint Louis, Missouri, placed the first mobile radio telephone call and made history. However this was not placed on a cellular telephone network, which does not yet exist.