Check out this image (Thanks to ModMyGphone.com) of China’s pet Android project, code named the OPhone. The OPhone is a cooperative endeavor by Lenovo and China Mobile that will utilize a version of the Android OS melded with TD SCDMA (China’s choice 3Gstandard) known as China Mobile’s OMS or Open Mobile System. China Mobile has been working on the OMS for a while and knows the importance of a proprietary handset Os. An inside source has been quoted. ,”Given these(iPhone, Android, Symbian) developments, it is becoming very clear that developing a proprietary handset operating system is essential for dominance of the mobile Internet market in China. At the moment, China Mobile is in a comparatively weak position without its own operating system. With its own operating system, China Mobile will be able to commission customized phones from handset makers and keep its hand strong in negotiations over profit sharing. There is even the possibility that China Mobile may move into manufacturing handsets itself.”
Not much is known about this phone other than what can be concluded from the visual. The OPhone has a large touchscreen interface, and what appears to be a single hardware ‘Home’ button.
From the picture it looks like the Chinese have got it right. Hopefully more handset makers will follow suit.
[modmygphone.com]