Taking the lead to extend Android™ applications

As global sales figures shown in a recent report, Android^TM OS smartphones is rapidly gaining a large market share. In the US market alone, the unit sales of Android^TM OS smartphones ranked first among all smartphones in the second and third quarters of 2010. From this global trend, it could be well expected that the adoption of Android^TM in other applications will create tremendous business opportunities for industries along the value chain.

Riding on the momentum, ASTRI has collaborated with the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation to establish the Working Group on Android^TM Applications. The purpose is to leverage the opportunity for the benefits of the whole value chain which include hardware and software companies, middleware and app developers by building a sustainable ecosystem in the region for creating innovative applications on Android^TM beyond smartphones.

Six co-founding companies have joined the Working Group. They include ARM, Imagination, MIPS Technologies, PCCW, Synopsys and TCL Research Lab. A ceremony was held on 25 November to mark the establishment of the Working Group. An InnoApp Digital Living Forum was held after the ceremony as the kick-off event of the Working Group. Representatives of founders and co-founding companies shared their vision and insight in the forum. About 150 participants from the industry joined the event.

Dr Cheung Nim-kwan (fourth from right), CEO of ASTRI on the kick-off ceremony for the establishment of Working Group on Android^TM Applications

Dr S.C. Chao (middle), VPGD of ECE Group, ASTRI, chairing the panel discussion

InnoApp Digital Living Forum is very well received by the audience