10/11/2010

Android-Powered SmartPhone by a Philippine Company?

I believe it is no longer a news that Cherry Mobile will be releasing or probably has released today their Android-powered smartphone line. I heard about it some months ago from some ever ever ever reliable source, actually just from my imagination. Then, saw the following shout-out from Cherry Mobile's fan page which confirmed that they are indeed releasing an android unit:

Watch out for the 10-11-10 update. Posting this from my Cherry Mobile Android Smartphone


Nothing interesting in there except that it's from a Filipino mobile product maker company, Cherry Mobile. And, that a fruit-named company, Cherry which sounds closer to Apple, is producing an Android-powered mobile units -- odd combination.

Should we look forward to yet another android phone by Cherry Mobile

Some internet-usage stats showed that most people in the developing countries (Third World or whatever we call it), like Philippines, access the world wide web via their mobile phones. I guess for the reason that mobile internet may come more affordable as subscribers don't need to go through the hassle of applying for an internet line/data plan, and mobile phone units with basic internet-browsing capability can be very cheap at second-hand markets.

If Cherry Mobile can offer affordable units to the Philippine market, it can somehow give a better web-browsing experience for the Filipinos. I played a little with iOS, Symbians, RIMs, and Androids. And, for me, Android's mobile internet browser has the best quality -- depending on your OS version, you can even view flash from it.
Nexus' Web Browser
If people want to research via web, we can now do it cheaply via a Cherry Mobile Android phone. Imagine schools in the remote areas can now have a better access to the web via this Android phone.

Another interesting thing to look forward is the world of apps (mobile applications). It will be very interesting to see as to how the majority of the Filipinos will react to the different applications they can download from the android market. If you are into tech, downloading applications is not something new. But for the majority, apps is still not that known, I believe. The interesting thing about it is not really about downloading and using mobile application, but how the apps may spark some ideas in Filipino's mind. I'm hoping that it can make us move to the other side of the fence -- instead of just being the  end users/consumers, we will become more active in creating and be the producers.

Also, those Filipino mobile app developers who happen to have apps in the Android market, may now have a better support from the local market since more people may be able to own an Android phone. 
I think I'm already way out of the highway. Nevertheless, if Cherry Mobile can be a way to introduce the power of Android to the majority of the population, then I guess that's worth looking forward to.

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