The blogs buzzing about a Google phone were nearly right. One could almost feel the iPhone hype returning. What Google did announce though played to their strengths as an innovative software company, taking a fresh look at the mobile world with their Open Handset Alliance to provide a unifying mobile operating system.
Unsurprisingly Nokia had something similar way back in 2001 with their open mobile architecture initiative. Before that in 1999 Palm and Nokia/Symbian were working together on a pen orientated phone interfaces. So yes, as Symbian suggest, Android is just another technology initiative, but it may be one that could actually work.
It’s a good play by Google as we can almost hear the cries of “unfair” by the mass of developers who want to freely develop applications for the iPhone but have been, seemingly, deliberately stymied, at least until February! This then leaves four major mobile smart phone operating systems from Symbian, Microsoft, RIM and now Google. What gives Android credence is that HTC, one of the more dynamic mobile manufacturers, are behind it, plus the blue chip mobile brands are also taking a look.
So could we imagine that by 2009 there will be Nokia, Samsung and HTC products with Android. Well possibly. Symbian was in the same position a few years ago, and after a number of attempts, have created an operating system that leads the world with the big 4 manufacturers. However Nokia, Motorola, and Samsung also have devices using competing operating systems. So why not use Android?
Security could be an issue. Millions of smartphones using an open operating system will be tempting proposition for data theft, especially as the mobile phone ‘wallet’ becomes a reality. Google will have to take great care to learn from the early Symbian hacking and virus attempts.
The handset manufacturers are a pragmatic bunch. They will ul