Wind River today announced the release of a commercial version of the Android platform that has been optimized on the OMAP 3 platform from Texas Instruments.
The Wind River Platform for Android represents a validated, fully compliant software platform based on the latest versions of the Android software development kit (SDK), available with pre-integrated software from initial partners Adobe, PacketVideo and Red Bend Software and global support by Wind River.
Commercialized platforms like Wind River's are aimed at allowing device manufacturers a faster route to market, alleviating the risks and uncertainties of building a platform from the ground up.
Wind River's solution includes pre-integrated third-party software, including existing Flash technology from Adobe, OpenCORE mobile multimedia software from PacketVideo and firmware over-the-air (FOTA) updating and device management software from Red Bend.
"Wind River Platform for Android was developed for operators and handset manufacturers challenged to consistently achieve time and quality performance metrics as Android devices are brought to market. By delivering a commercial Android platform, we are offering a fast way for them to innovate and differentiate without the risks common to open source software," said Chris Perret in a press release.
Android has received some criticism as of late about the possibility of widespread fragmentation across the open-source platform as more handsets are released and Google continues to roll out new versions of Android. The emergence of commercial-ready versions of an open-source OS are often seen as a sign that the operating system has achieved some degree of maturity.
Wind River became a member of the Open Handset Alliance in 2007 as a Linux commercialization partner.