Well, it was all as the net predicted. Google did make an announcement yesterday and it wasn't a GPhone. Instead of any specific Google-branded handset, Google are offering the world Android, a free open platform. A group of manufacturers and carriers (mostly those rumoured to be making and marketing the GPhone, such as HTC, T-Mobile and Motorola) will be carrying Android on a selection of handsets from next year making up the "Open Handset Alliance".
All in all a bit disappointing for those who spent idle minutes doodling GPhone concepts. But Andy Rubin, Director of Mobile Platforms at Google, insists that what they're offering is far more revolutionary than just a handset. Aside from the fact that free software suggests the price of handsets could come down, by going down the Android path Google is launching a bid to change the way we use all phones.
In his blog entry, Where's My GPhone?, Rubin explains: "We recognize that many among the multitude of mobile users around the world do not and may never have an Android-based phone. Our goals must be independent of device or even platform." And in keeping with that, Google is promising a software development kit for independent app developers within a week or so.
Just as with OpenSocial online, Google is not interested in having a piece of hardware that everyone wants. It's not saying it, but effectively we can leave that to the likes of Apple. What Google wants is a small piece of every mobile user's experience. One might ask how smaller companies can hope to succeed where Google is not only plugging the gaps between Windows Mobile, OSX and Symbian but encroaching on their territory, but Google was a small company once, too. All it'll take is someone with just as much moxie. A tall order? Yes. But not impossible.
Now make yourself feel all guey and glow inside by watching this video. What would YOUR magic phone do?
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