Google sets the mobile phone stage — big time
This is big. Google made a key announcement today it what will become a widely used standard across the mobile space (it also previews/parallels what could happen in the more competitive/solidified desktop space). Google is laying the ground work to become a key player in the mobile space. This is much more than a single product — one that will fade as soon as the next big thing comes out. Think Microsoft DOS/Windows (plus hardware and network partners)…for mobile. What is unique is that instead of building out an ecosystem like this organically (vis-a-vis the Microsoft evolution), Google is architecting the ecosystem from the start. This will force an ‘Are you in or out?’ environment and increase the pace. Think AOL v. the Internet; or more recently Facebook v. MySpace…and then Google v. Facebook. Open is in. And by architecting it up front like this, business models are more certain (the same cannot be said for Facebook…to the same degree) and rapid innovation and product development should follow.
I still can’t help but ask… so when can I get my GPhone? I’m in. Anything that will remove me from being stuck behind my PC, but allow me to be as, or more, productive.
Google press release. Excerpt:
Industry Leaders Announce Open Platform for Mobile Devices
Group Pledges to Unleash Innovation for Mobile Users WorldwideA broad alliance of leading technology and wireless companies today joined forces to announce the development of Android, the first truly open and comprehensive platform for mobile devices. Google Inc., T-Mobile, HTC, Qualcomm, Motorola and others have collaborated on the development of Android through the Open Handset Alliance, a multinational alliance of technology and mobile industry leaders. …
From NYTimes.com:
Google Makes Its Entry Into the Wireless World
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 5 — Google took its long-awaited plunge into the wireless world today, announcing that it is leading a broad industry alliance to transform mobile phones into powerful mobile computers that could accelerate the convergence of computing and communications.
Mobile phones based on Google’s software are not expected to be available until the second half of next year. They will be manufactured by a variety of handset companies, including HTC, LG, Motorola and Samsung and be available in the United States through T-Mobile and Sprint.
The phones will also be available through the world’s largest mobile operator, China Telecom, with 332 million subscribers in China, and the leading carriers in Japan, NTT DoCoMo and KDDI, as well as T-Mobile in Germany, Telecom Italia in Italy and Telefónica in Spain. …
And Google answers my question.. where is my GPhone? …with this blog post..
Despite all of the very interesting speculation over the last few months, we’re not announcing a Gphone. However, we think what we are announcing — the Open Handset Alliance and Android — is more significant and ambitious than a single phone. In fact, through the joint efforts of the members of the Open Handset Alliance, we hope Android will be the foundation for many new phones and will create an entirely new mobile experience for users, with new applications and new capabilities we can’t imagine today. …
Updates/Related posts:
GigaOm – Google Launches Mobile Phone Platform, Android: What it Means, What Experts Think
TechCrunch – Breaking: Google Announces Android and Open Handset Alliance
PC World – What Google’s Entry into Phone Biz Means to You
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