ARM unveils Android Solutions Center

ARM, the chip designer, has unveiled a new Android Solutions Center where designers and developers can build their ARM-based devices that run on the Android operating system. ARM is a company, which designs and develops the processors for handheld devices and other electronic appliances.

The company claims that already 35 ARM-friendly developers have joined the ARM Android Solutions Center.

Recently, Dell, Acer and Motorola have all announced new smartphones that run on the new Android operating system. The companies are also looking for solutions that would assist them in their work of developing the phones. The new Android Solutions Center will have many developer tools, software components and turnkey solutions.

Android – which is Google’s open source mobile stack – was originally written for ARM-based Qualcomm chipset. Now, Android boasts of big names like Motorola Droid and HTC Hero. Apart from smartphones, the software is also running on some ARM-based notebooks – or rather smartbooks, as ARM guys call them.

ARM, on November 17, 2009, announced the Solution Center for Android, an online resource that offers everything from developer  guides, tools and software components to videos, blogs and demos, all aimed at helping designers build products for the open source OS.

“We’re trying to be a great resource for people looking to develop devices,” said James Bruce, wireless segment manager for ARM. “This is a hub to highlight resources,” he added.

The launch of Android had been a turning point in the history of open source software for mobiles and other electronic devices. In the past, developers had to build the entire software stack on top of an existing OS or buy an off-the-shelf piece of software like Microsoft Windows Mobile or Symbian. Now with the launch of Android, the developers can just Google for the required software pack and download the pack for their use, since it is open-sourced.

The major challenge that Android had to face was that, often, the downloaded software pack would not be specifically suited for user requirements. This is where the Android Solutions Center comes in handy. The main partners that have contributed to the Android Solutions Center initiative are America Megatrends, Incube Solutions, iWave Systems, LSF Design, Mistrial Solution, Texas Instruments, VirtualLogix, Wipro,  Nvidia, Broadcom, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments and Archos.