Android's OHA garners big name support

The Open Handset Alliance (OHA) signed up 14 new members this week, including Sony Ericsson and Vodafone.

This is good news for the OHA – the supporters’ club for Google’s Android operating system.

It shows that the assocation is starting to win support from Europe-based partners, who have traditionally backed Android’s rival operating system, Symbian.

Google hopes that Android will develop into a key competitor for Apple’s iPhone handset, which increased sales by over 300% in the third quarter.

In addition to Vodafone and Sony Ericsson, companies pledging their support for Android included technology firm ARM Holdings, computer makers Asustek and Toshiba, and GPS manufacturer Garmin.

A total of 47 companies now belong to the OHA. Very few big names in the mobile telecoms sector – Apple and Nokia aside – are now outside the OHA.

Earlier members include chip makers Intel and Qualcomm, and mobile phone makers Samsung, HTC, and Motorola.

Ericsson’s Robert Puskaric said he expects Android to become a significant application framework for mobile phones.