14 join Google's Open Handset Alliance

Fourteen new members have joined the Google-led Open Handset Alliance (OHA), pledging to support Google's Android operating system.

The new members include industry giants such as Vodafone, Ericsson, Sony Ericsson, Toshiba, Huawei and Softbank. The OHA now consists of 47 members.

Each of the members have pledged to either deploy Android devices, contribute code to the Android Open Source Project or develop supporting products and services for the platform.

While announcing its involvement in the OHA, Sony Ericsson has stated it intends to launch an Android phone in mid-2009.

"Android is set to become a significant application framework for mobile phones and our goal is to provide our customers with platforms that enable them to be successful," said Robert Puskaric, head of Ericsson's mobile platforms' business.

The other new members are AKM Semiconductor, ARM, ASUSTek, Atheros, Borqs, Garmin International, Omron Software and Teleca AB.