ARM launches Solution Center to foster Android-powered devices

As the Android wave continues to engulf new markets of electronic devices, developers for the platform may get confused by all of the different hardware variables out there. Android isn't just for smartphones like the Motorola Droid. Device manufacturers are putting Android into everything from digital picture frames to cars.

As Wired reports today, all of the different devices and variations on the OS are causing confusion.

Not to fear, ARM, the CPU designer behind most, if not all, Open Handset Alliance (OHA) devices has opened a resource. The site advertises:

• Development tools
• Complete Android solutions
• Android software components
• Android services
• Android training

..amongst its features. From the logo below, you can see they've got many organizations signed up, including Acrodea, America Megatrends, Archos, Atelier, Beijing Farsight, CoWare, Datalight, Discretix Technologies, Embedded Artists AB, Enea, Haansoft, Incube Solutions, Ingenient Technologies, Intrinsyc Software, iWave Systems, Lauterbach, LSF Design, Mapusoft, Mentor Graphics, Mistrial Solution, Montavista, Movial, NECEL, Open Kernel Labs, Pathpartnertech, QSound, Symsource, SQLStar, Tata Elxsi, Texas Instruments, Thundersoft, Vayavya Labs, Viosoft, VirtualLogix, VisualOn, Wipro and Zii Labs

"As we have seen through the recent launches of handsets such as Motorola's Droid and Acer's Liquid, the Android platform represents a fundamental change in the open source ecosystem," said Kevin Smith, VP Segment Marketing, ARM. "ARM is the leading processor architecture for internet everywhere applications from mobile to the connected home and with that leadership, ARM is in a position to foster an innovative ecosystem to ensure that device manufacturers have the best development solutions at their disposal. The Solution Center for Android serves as a one-stop guide to provide developers with the tools and information they need to create innovative devices with applications that satisfy consumers' needs."

"Consumer adoption of smartbooks, smartphones and other 'always on' connected devices is forecast to increase significantly in the next few years," said Jeff, Orr, senior analyst at ABI Research. "Manufacturers of these devices need a support structure that enables them to develop cutting-edge devices quickly and affordably."

Hopefully, this will spur innovation in this field. I want to browse the Web on my refrigerator.