China Mobile Communications Corps research and development branch, China Mobile Research Institute, has chosen Red Bend to provide software for firmware over-the-air (FOTA) updating and device management (DM) for mobile phones that use the Android-based OPhone OS (Open Mobile Phone Operating System). China Mobile Communications Corp is the worlds largest wireless network operator, with more than 500 million subscribers.
Under the agreement, China Mobile has adopted Red Bends vRapid Mobile FOTA software and vDirect Mobile DM software for performing remote management and software updates on OPhone Smartphones. The OPhone OS is based on the Google Android platform and is customized with China Mobiles applications and services, enabling the operator to bring a new wave of innovative handsets and Internet applications to the Chinese market.
Multiple OPhone OS handsets with Red Bends software have already launched in China this year from manufacturers, including HTC, Philips, Lenovo Mobile and Dell. Red Bends vRapid Mobile enables China Mobile to improve the mobile user experience by delivering software enhancements and new features over the air. Red Bends vDirect Mobile provides China Mobile with standards-based management of OPhone devices in order to provision new subscribers and configure applications and network settings.
The OPhone OS holds tremendous potential not only in China but around the world, says Danny Wang, Country Manager of Greater China for Red Bend Software. We intend to leverage our relationship with China Mobile and our integration with OPhone to become the preferred solution for standards-based device management and software updating for Android phones worldwide.
Separately, Red Bend has revealed that vRapid Mobile has shipped in 620 million mobile devices worldwide, spanning 455 device models from manufacturers including Sony Ericsson, LG, Motorola, Sharp and HTC. The companys shipments grew by 20% in Q3, compared to Q3 2008. During third quarter, Red Bend signed four new customers, including Sagem Communications, for a total of 52 licensees of its solutions for mobile software updating and device management.