Google to expand in smartphone arena

Google Inc will allow developers to sell applications for its Android cell phone operating system in the United States. This step is being taken by Google to expand in a smartphone arena dominated by Apple Inc.

Google's announcement has marked an important step in the search giant's quest to catch up with Apple in the fast-growing market for smartphones. It signals Google's commitment to expand into a relatively hot mobile market.

Google’s Android Market will initially carry paid applications from developers in the United States and Britain, with plans to allow developers in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, France and Spain to participate later.

Smartphones, which allow consumers to browse the Web, send email, play games and listen to music, in addition to making calls, are one of the few bright spots in a slowing technology and consumer electronics market.

The T-Mobile G1 phone uses the Android operating system. There are currently 1,000 applications that run on Android smartphones.

Google brings Books to Apple iPhone and T-Mobile G1

Google is offering users of Apple iPhone and Android-powered mobile devices to access millions of books through Google Book Search.

The company has made available more than 1.5 million public-domain books in the US and more than 500,000 outside the US for mobile users to browse anytime at no cost.

"We are excited to announce the launch of a mobile version of Google Book Search, opening up over 1.5 million mobile public domain books in the US and over half a million outside the US for you to browse," the company said.

Google has also made it clear that the Google Book Search service can be accessed through mobile devices such as the Apple iPhone or T-Mobile G1, which is powered by Google's Android software.

To access the mobile version of Google Book Search a user needs to type http://books.google.com/m into the Web browser of their iPhone or Android phone.

Starting with 1.5 million books, Google's goal is to move toward universal access to books.

Dell to fight with iPhone and Blackberry - set to announce Google Android and Microsoft Windows Mobiles

Dell is going to be the latest electronics maker to enter the smartphone market, following in the footsteps of Apple. Dell is reportedly entering the smartphone market. Dell would face stiff competition from Apple, Research in Motion, and Palm, among others. RIM and Apple hold 70 percent of the U.S. market for smartphones.

Dell is expected to announce two iPhone and Blackberry competitors sometime next month. The phones will run on Google Android and Microsoft Windows Mobile respectively.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Dell will introduce in February at the Mobile World Conference in Barcelona two new mobile phones, set to go head to head with market leaders Apple and Research In Motion.

One of the phones will be touchscreen-only similar to Apple's iPhone, while the other is a slider-style phone with a full QWERTY keyboard, similar to the T-Mobile G1. The other technical specifications are not available yet.

Dell could launch its first device in February.