The Android OHA (Open Handet Alliance) grew stronger as 14 new members joined the Alliance taking the total number to 47. These include some noteworthy companies like Sony Ericsson, Vodafone, Ericsson, Toshiba, AKM Semiconductor Inc., ARM, ASUSTek Computer Inc., Atheros Communications, Borqs, Garmin International Inc., Huawei Technologies, Omron Software Co. Ltd, Softbank Mobile Corporation and Teleca AB. The Alliance already has some strong members including handset manufacturers, telecom operators and software companies such as Intel, Samsung, LG, Sprint, T-Mobile, HTC and many others.

According to the official Press Release, "New members will either deploy compatible Android devices, contribute significant code to the Android Open Source Project, or support the ecosystem through products and services that will accelerate the availability of Android-based devices. With these commitments, the Open Handset Alliance will continue to drive greater and faster innovation for the benefit of mobile users and everyone in the industry."

Here are some important quotes regarding this development:

"Joining the Open Handset Alliance today is a logical step in our mobile internet journey. Working with emerging terminal platforms for smartphones is critical for us to deliver unbeatable customer experiences and accelerate time to market for innovative products and services." (Frank H Rovekamp, Global Chief Marketing Officer, Vodafone Group)

"Sony Ericsson is excited to announce its membership of the Open Handset Alliance and confirm its intention to develop a handset based on the Android platform We believe Sony Ericsson can bring a wealth of experience in making consumer focused multimedia handsets with new user experience to the Alliance drawing on the successes of the Walkman and Cyber-shot sub-brands. Sony Ericsson is a strong supporter of open operating systems and we believe the Open Handset Alliance offers an exciting opportunity for a new and unique user experience only Sony Ericsson can deliver." (Rikko Sakaguchi, CVP and head of Creation and Development, Sony Ericsson)

This new development will definitely add to the popularity of the Android platform and we might see more and more companies switching over from Nokia's Symbian OS and Microsoft's Windows Mobile Platform and adopting the Android platform due to its Open nature and lower cost of deployment. Read the complete Press Release here

Source: Android OHA