Google’s Android mobile phone operating system is expanding its horizons.
A plan to port the open-source OS and applications platform to the MIPS processor architecture is expected to lead to new non-mobile applications such as digital TV, in-car systems and medical devices.
Embedded Alley, an California-based embedded Linux specialist, is porting the Android mobile applications platform to the MIPS processor architecture.
The target of the work is the MIPS-based Alchemy Processor family from RMI, but will also support a number of other MIPS SoC implementations from MIPS licensees.
The work will see the Google/Open Handset Alliance software stack ported to a new CPU.
It will also open up new applications for the Android platform including digital set-top boxes, GPS and infotainment in cars and medical devices.
The first MIPS-compatible SoC processor supported for Android will be RMI’s Au1250 Processor which is aimed at media and communications applications
RMI will demonstrate Android on the Alchemy Processor family at CompuTEX in June in Taipei, Taiwan.
Embedded Alley support for Android will be available starting in May.