Kyocera Wireless said that it increasing its partnership with Wind River to leverage Android mobile software development to target CDMA handset makers.

In an ambitious undertaking announced this week, Kyocera said it will team up with Wind River, which will provide solutions developed through its involvement in the Open Handset Alliance, to further the development of smart phones.

"Our goal is to make Kyocera the leader in Android integration among CDMA device manufacturers in the markets we serve," said Dave Carey, vice president of the Kyocera unit's Consumer Products Group, in a statement. "Our adoption of the Android platform further exemplifies how Kyocera Wireless is driving the convergence of telecommunication broadband and multimedia technologies in mobile devices."

By targeting CDMA cell phone service providers, the Kyocera-Wind River collaboration will be wishfully aiming the major U.S. CDMA providers Verizon Wireless, Sprint, and Alltel, none of which is currently on the verge of unveiling an Android handset.

Kyocera, itself the sixth largest handset provider in the world, pioneered early development of smartphones through handsets that use the Palm operating system as early as 2000. Kyocera Wireless is based in San Diego, not coincidentally near CDMA powerhouse Qualcomm. Kyocera's parent company in Japan utilizes CDMA.

The partnership plan, according to Kyocera, is for Wind River to provide software systems integration services that leverage Wind River's expertise in commercial Linux. The strategy also calls for the inclusion of middleware and user interface integration and integration of technologies from other Android Open Handset Alliance members as well as from third party developers.

"As part of being a Linux Commercialization partner of the Open Handset Alliance, we're at the nexus of the mobile ecosystem," said Jason Whitmire, general manager of Wind River's Mobile Segment, in a statement. "Our Android systems integration services will provide our broad mobile and deep open source expertise to Kyocera Wireless."

Kyocera itself is well-positioned in CDMA, having purchased Qualcomm's consumer wireless phone business in 2000 and then adding Sanyo's wireless phone business last year.