Planet Lowyat

Google Inc. showed off its nearly completed mobile Relevant Products/Services software system to about 3,000 computer programmers Wednesday, hoping to cultivate more services and advertising for people on the go.

Although brief, the demonstration at the Internet search leader’s annual developer conference in San Francisco represented the most extensive public look so far at “Android” — an open-source platform being designed for “smart” phones and other mobile devices that surf the Web. Android was first announced nearly seven months ago.

The new Google-powered mobile phone will be able to unlock the handset by drawing a secret shape on the screen.

The new ’signature unlocking’ tool was among the features revealed during a sneak preview in California yesterday.

Other highlights include a built-in compass that will allow people to orientate maps as they use their phone to scout out a restaurant or venue, and a customizable homepage that lets people bookmark their favourite web pages.

The device - which is unlocked by drawing a shape only the owner knows on a nine-square grid - will also include a magnifying tool, to make zooming in on web content easier on a small screen, and a mobile version of the game Pac Man.

Google will not make the phone, but has helped develop the software that handset manufacturers will install in their devices. Samsung, HTC, LG Electronics, and Motorola are among the companies that have said they will produce phones that run on Android.

With about 3 billion mobile phones already on the market, some analysts believe Google could pull in nearly $5 billion annually from the mobile market within five years.

Google is also trying to boost its profits by selling more software services over Internet connections to businesses, universities and government agencies.

The company also wants to make it easier for outside developers to create applications on the Web. Even if those applications aren’t on Google’s Web site, the company figures it is bound to get more search requests — and more advertising opportunities — if people are doing more things online.