US / Japan : According to the latest "Insight Report" released today by the Mobile Consumer Lab and Mind Commerce, Google's Android is the first legitimate attempt to re-create the success of Japan's "Wireless Ecosystem" model within the context and realities of international mobile markets. If successful, Google could spark unprecedented innovations within mobile content, service and application development, yet a number a critical factors stand in the way of such success.

This Insight Report, entitled "Google Android and the Wireless Ecosystem" looks through the hype and cynicism that has surrounded Google's official unveiling of Android and analyzes the significance of Android versus competitive platforms such as Symbian, Windows Mobile and MontaVista, as well as competing devices such as Apple's iPhone and RIM's Blackberry.

"Although Symbian and Microsoft have offered the most stinging criticisms of Google's Android, Google's next (and most) critical challenge at this early stage of development actually lies in how it will address MontaVista, and galvanize the mobile Linux development movement," states Dr. Philip Sugai, Director of the Mobile Consumer Lab at the International University of Japan and lead author of this report. "Without successfully accomplishing this goal, Android will become obsolete within 2008, never ever leveling a substantial competitive threat against either Symbian or Microsoft."

Using the lessons learned from within Japan's best-in-class Wireless Ecosystem framework, this report identifies five fundamental challenges which threaten Google's mobile dreams and establishes four required milestones for the Open Handset Alliance to achieve in order to effectively compete within the global mobile industry.

This is the first report released jointly by the Mobile Consumer Lab in Japan and Mind Commerce of the U.S. "This report and our ongoing collaboration leverages the unique strengths of both our organizations," states Fred Taylor, Director of Research at Mind Commerce. "As an academic research lab with an extremely international research team, the Mobile Consumer Lab has the global perspective required to understand the dynamics of this industry, while being housed in one of the world's most advanced mobile markets. Combining that with our proven track record of success in business-focused consulting and research brings a dynamic new element to our reporting capabilities."

A free summary of this report is available both at the Mobile Consumer Lab ( www.MoCoBe.com ) and Mind Commerce ( www.MindCommerce.com ), and the full report can be purchased through the Mind Commerce site at
http://www.mindcommerce.com/Publications/androidreport.php?=pr