Freescale Semiconductor is supporting the Android operating
system on its Power Architecture based microprocessors.
The move is significant because it seems that Freescale has
recognised the importance of the Android OS outside the mobile
handset market.
It sees applications for its processors running Android in
industrial applications and touch screen interfaces for system
controls.
Freescale is not the first processor firm to see potential for
Android outside of the mobile phone market, for which it was
originally created by Google last year.
MIPS is targeting high-end consumer products such as digital TVs
and set-top boxes for its Android port.
See:
MIPS joins Open Handset Alliance in Android
push
Freescale’s
platform for
the Android OS will initially run on the MPC8536E PowerQUICC
III processor and uses the Mentor Graphics implementation of the
Android OS on Power Architecture technology.
The MPC8536-ADK will be shipped preconfigured with an Android
runtime and demonstration applications.