Google entered the mobile phone market this week when T-Mobile rolled out the first handset running the search engine's Android mobile operating system. Oracle also ventured into new territory by announcing that it will sell a hardware product -- a database server the company developed with Hewlett-Packard. Three major U.S. ISPs (Internet service providers) claimed that customers will have to opt-in to receive targeted advertising, eliminating the need for government regulation. And Microsoft is still searching for a search strategy to compete with Google.

T-Mobile, Google and HTC introduce first Android phone

The first cell phone running Android, Google's mobile operating system, debuted Tuesday. U.S. customers can purchase the G1 from T-Mobile on Oct. 22 for US$179. The handset, which HTC manufactures and calls the Dream, will appear in the U.K. in November and other T-Mobile European markets in the first quarter. The G1 comes with a touchscreen display, as well as a slideout keyboard. Gmail, Google Maps, YouTube and GTalk are all featured applications on the phone. Users can purchase music from the Amazon MP3 store and applications from the Android store. The phone can read Word, PDF and Excel documents but cannot synch with Microsoft's Exchange e-mail program. Google spun this as a perfect chance for developers to take advantage of Android's open-source model and create an application for the task.

Rozwat talks about cloud, but holds back on Fusion, Ellison pitches high-speed data warehouse server, Oracle puts its 11g database in Amazon's cloud and Oracle aims to get Fusion to some by next year

Oracle used its OpenWorld conference in San Francisco to announce assorted news. The biggest headlines came on Wednesday when CEO Larry Ellison announced two high-speed servers that the company developed with HP. This marks Oracle's first entry into the hardware market. Information on the debut of Fusion Applications, long-awaited software that combines the best features from Oracle's many acquired product lines, proved limited. One executive said the suite may not arrive until 2010, while another deflected questions on the product. Yet another person said that early adopters will start testing the apps in 2009. Oracle provided more details on its cloud computing strategy, announcing that it will offer the 11g database through Amazon's cloud computing service. Oracle also said that it is partnering with Intel and eventually AMD to ready businesses for computing in the cloud.

Large ISPs endorse customer opt-in for Web tracking

AT&T, Time Warner Cable and Verizon will develop policies that require customers to opt-in before the ISPs track their online activities, according to corporate representatives who spoke before a U.S. Senate committee on Thursday. The ISPs currently do not practice behavioral advertising programs that serve ads to users based on their Internet activities. While concern has grown over recent reports that Web tracking and targeted ads are imminent, the ISPs told Congress that the industry will draft best practices to ensure privacy. Broadband competition will ensure that these practices are followed, negating the need for government regulation. However, the president of a consumer advocacy group questioned that pledge, claiming that competition in the market is limited.