This week Google’s Android mobile operating system gained some forceful followers. The Open Handset Alliance announced the membership of 14 additional companies that now support Android as an open mobile platform.

According to the press release, the new members include: AKM Semiconductor Inc., ARM, ASUSTek Computer Inc., Atheros Communications, Borqs, Ericsson, Garmin International Inc., Huawei Technologies, Omron Software Co. Ltd, Softbank Mobile Corporation, Sony Ericsson, Teleca AB, Toshiba Corporation, and Vodafone.

These are some pretty big wins for Android, especially in the handset manufacturer space with Sony Ericsson and ASUS linking arms with the OS. “Sony Ericsson is excited to announce its membership of the Open Handset Alliance and confirm its intention to develop a handset based on the Android platform,” Rikko Sakaguchi, CVP and head of Creation and Development, Sony Ericsson is quoted in the release. It is clearer than ever that Android could seriously encroach on Microsoft Windows Mobile.

“As for the open handset alliance, the growing list of players is certainly a positive step for Android’s future.В  The combined volumes of those manufacturers and operators involved will certainly create a strong competitive threat to Windows Mobile on a global basis,” says Andy Castonguay of the Yankee Group. “Windows Mobile’s competitive positioning in the US market is relatively less threatened for the near term simply due to the weak market presence of most of the Open Handset Alliance partners, but certainly not for long.”

But will Android surpass Windows Mobile? Time will tell says Current Analysis’ Research Director of Mobile Devices Avi Greenhart. “Windows Mobile itself should see major updates in 2009 and 2010; Microsoft is also getting new licensees – Sony Ericsson, LG, and Velocity Mobile all recently launched products – and thus far there is only a single example of Android on the market, so long term consumer acceptance is still an open question. But this announcement does make it increasingly likely that Android will be a long term success.”