DoCoMo, Google to join forces, say Japanese reports

Japan's biggest mobile carrier, NTT DoCoMo Inc., will partner with Google Inc. to provide search and e-mail on its handsets, news reports claimed today.

As early as this spring, DoCoMo subscribers may be able to access Google's search tool, as well as the Gmail e-mail service, Google Calendar scheduler and Picasa photo-sharer, using the former's i-Mode network, said the Reuters news service and Japan's main business daily, The Nikkei. Each cited unnamed sources within DoCoMo.

DoCoMo's growth has fallen behind that of smaller carriers in Japan, said the reports -- a problem that has forced the company to scramble to match rivals such as SoftBank Mobile Corp. and KDDI Corp., which have put more resources into developing wireless Internet services.

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Google Mobile Phones Debut in Feb?

There is new going around about a February debut of the new Google/Android Phone.

Here are a few links to news stories about this. There is no real info so it seems like this might be all speculation. Hopefully we will see soon. This new after everyone has been saying Android is not ready, buggy and hard to develop on.

Links:
http://www.crunchgear.com/2007/12/27/android-in-february-prepare-grains-of-salt-now/

http://www.alleyinsider.com/2007/12/gphone-alert-gphone-alert-february-in-barcelona.html

http://www.macnn.com/articles/07/12/26/android.phones.in.february/


The article says that Apple will be missing and Google will be attending.

http://www.apcmag.com/7726/google_powered_mobile_phones_to_make_a_february_debut

Sci-Tech Today | Report: Google's Android Full of Bugs

Report: Google's Android Full of Bugs

Following reports that Google's Android platform for mobile devices is buggy, IDC's Chris Hazelton pointed out that developers are being asked to "design an application when they don't even know what the interface is." Android devices are expected "sometime in the second half of 2008," he said, so there is time for problems to be worked out.

Wifi Army Game application!

This is awesome...


Giving you a peek at what kind of gaming platform Google's Android will host is the Wi-Fi Army developed by W2Pi Entertainment. The company hopes to win funds from the Android Challenge. This shooter game involves the 3 technologies - GPS, Google Maps, and camera phone. Instead of using video graphics, you can engage real people in a (gun) phone fight. The camera phone functions as your scope to hunt other players. The GPS is used to locate other players within 300 feet radius. Once another player is detected within the range, you will be notified about this new found enemy. Google Maps provides support to find other players. Sounds cool! Presently this game allows only 500 people to play per city. The icing on the cake is that this game is Free!

Source: Newlaunches

Android Hardware In The Wild: Google Android Prototype In the Wild

Android Hardware In The Wild: Google Android Prototype In the Wild: "Here's the first gorgeous shot of an Google Android prototype in the wild. It looks HTC-ish in build, similar to the grainy versions we've seen in the official videos and the renderings in the SDK emulator. Our source, a Giz reader, had some feedback to add to the prototype, which he used for a day: Even in early form, it's light and fast, much faster than the desktop emulator at times. And as a longtime programmer, he thinks it's a lot more put together than Window Mobile 5 on the back side of things. It's a prototype, so things will obviously change, but these are all great signs. I just pray that hardware by other makers is a lot more adventurous. In my mind, those HTC designs remind me a little too much of WM and will for a long time. [Thanks Tipster X]"

» Nokia dismisses Google Android threat at its peril | Open Source | ZDNet.com

Nokia dismisses Google Android threat at its peril by ZDNet's Dana Blankenhorn -- Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, "Olli-mandias" and CEO of Nokia, sneeringly dismisses Google's Android effort with a figurative wave of the hand.

Android's Got Game - Dodge Balls

Check out the vid below of the first game developed for Android that I've seen so far. You can also download the source code HERE.