Google will announce an open source development platform for mobile applications that will contain a full set of components, including an operating system, a set of common APIs, a middleware layer, a customizable user interface, and even a mobile browser, sources said. Instant messaging standard protocols will also be supported.

The ultimate goal is to lower the costs and simplify the creation of mobile applications and spur innovation that, as Google sees it, has been hampered by technical fragmentation. As such, the Google offering will rival existing mobile platforms from Microsoft and Symbian.

via | tags: mobile market microsoft symbian

Labels: collaboration, development, google, microsoft, mobile, opensource, web_2.0, web_apps