Big news today, Google announced Android:
Android is the first truly open and comprehensive platform for mobile devices. It includes an operating system, user-interface and applications — all of the software to run a mobile phone, but without the proprietary obstacles that have hindered mobile innovation. We have developed Android in cooperation with the Open Handset Alliance, which consists of more than 30 technology and mobile leaders…. Through deep partnerships with carriers, device manufacturers, developers, and others, we hope to enable an open ecosystem for the mobile world by creating a standard, open mobile software platform. We think the result will ultimately be a better and faster pace for innovation that will give mobile customers unforeseen applications and capabilities.
I remember the news in 2005 when Andy Rubin’s company called Android was acquired by Google and I would have thought, as many others did as well, that Google would be using the project to develop a branded/closed Google Mobile OS. Instead it’s open, which is great for everyone but what’s the Google strategy?
The downside of completely opening Android for Google would be permitting providers and suppliers to control whatever is on the device, meaning they could use the OS and not include any Google services. But the upside of supplying a superior product that doesn’t require the provider or supplier to license a proprietary OS that they don’t have control over will make Windows Mobile irrelevant as an OS alternative outside of the enterprise that’s locked into the Microsoft silo.
