Open Source Featured Article

Following in the tradition of Hollywood blockbusters and the American Movie Classics channel’s hit cable TV series “Mad Men” (whose debonair star, John Hamm, is pictured below), the United Kingdom is getting its T-Mobile G1 phones – based on Google’s open source Android (News - Alert) platform – a week after the United States.

 

But, according to reports, T-Mobile (News - Alert) U.K. is unveiling today – just as U.S. gadget-lovers start buying their Android phones – the first applications available in the United Kingdom for download in the so-called “Android Market.” That’s Google (News - Alert)-speak for App Store.

 

T-Mobile U.K. put out a short list of 50 free applications that officials there say “promise to do everything from teaching you to play the guitar, mix the perfect cocktail and even measure the earth’s movements.”

 

One application that’s not on that list nevertheless made headlines in the United States today.

 

As TMCnet reported, a San Francisco-based Web communications services provider is offering the Android G2 (News - Alert) phone’s first VoIP solution.

 

Officials with iSkoot say their mobile application – called “iSkoot for Skype”– brings mobile VoIP features that include inexpensive IP telephony international and local calls, and instant messaging, to the cell phones.

 

Though it lacks iSkoot, T-Mobile U.K.’s shortlist is diverse.

One application takes advantage of the G1’s camera and GPS functionality. It’s called “Wikitude,” and it displays local information from Wikipedia on-screen when users are scanning their surroundings using the device’s camera.

 

Some applications that users may find especially handy in this slower economy are those designed to stretch budgets. ShopSavvy, for example, uses the G1’s camera to “scan” product barcodes and then searches the Web using the browser to find the best available prices.

 

The application also features product reviews and ratings, lets users create shopping lists, connects them to shops selling the product and gives directions to the nearest retailer using Google Maps.

 

According to Jim Hyde, chief executive officer at T-Mobile U.K., the company is committed to opening up the Internet to give customers the freedom to do whatever they want online.

 

“The open nature of Android Market has already sparked an exciting range of applications which allow customers to tailor their phone to suit their lifestyle,” Hyde said. “We’re really excited to be able to offer the first 50 applications free of charge and believe the T-Mobile G1 has the potential to revolutionize the way we use and view our phones.”