Google Press Conference Today: Mobile "Android" Platform

[edesignuk]

Google will be holding a conference call at noon eastern to unveil the details of its long-rumored Android mobile operating system. Joining CEO Eric Schmidt will be other members of the 34-member Open Handset Alliance, including the chief executives of Deutche Telekom, HTC, Qualcomm, and Motorola. According to the press release, the "Android platform will be made available under one of the most progressive, developer-friendly open-source licenses," and will be composed of a "fully integrated mobile 'software stack' that consists of an operating system, middleware, user-friendly interface and applications." Pictured above is simply a concept, and is not officially from Google. More details to follow.

Engadget | Press Release | Google Blog | Android Official

[ChrisA]

A little more ionfo....
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/wireles...le-phone_N.htm

[kdarling]

Sigh. And I dislike programming in Java. I was really hoping they'd come out with a universally ported browser with easy widget programming.

But if I'm able to give or sell an app to zillions of phones, plus my own, without hassles, then I'm for a global OS.

Also, I like their emphasis on a customizable UI.

With devices built on the Android Platform, users will be able to fully tailor the phone to their interests. They can swap out the phone's homescreen, the style of the dialer, or any of the applications. They can even instruct their phones to use their favorite photo viewing application to handle the viewing of all photos.

(Gee, sounds like WM.)

I think the biggest deal of any phone OS is the ability for personalization. Everyone has their own idea of what's important to them. This is Apple's giant mistake so far... and a good reason why so many jailbreak their phone... people want to customize their phone, and arrange things to their liking.

[Peace]

I'd like to be a fly on the wall of the room Eric Schmidt and Steve Jobs are in right now.

[plumbingandtech]

This is Apple's giant mistake so far... and a good reason why so many jailbreak their phone...

I could not disagree more. A Consistant UI is king. Just look at say the past 24 years.

What you mention about customizing is fine for a small percentage of people. Most just want it to work as easily as possible.

This phone and the customization will actually be a hinderance because you just know what verizon will do to this. Will a person be able to undo the verizon interface to make it more like them? Sounds like yes. But the vast majority will not.

This phone so far sounds like openmoko backed by bigger and more companies.

Openmoko and this phone will appeal to those that like to tweak out their phone. But an emphasis on a customziable interface will be the thing makes it only slightly more easier to use then the moto POS out there now. And not demonstrably better like the iphone and its consistan UI has brought us.

edit: And i would like to add that come Feb. Apple's 3rd party support will prob. take care of a good chunk of those that like to customize without buying a phone from the Android platform.

[yg17]

Awesome! Google? T-Mobile? Count me in. I should be due for a discounted upgrade sometime in 2008 With T-Mobile, so this is awesome.

Sounds like this might be a true open platform phone.

[kdarling]

Originally Posted by plumbingandtech

I could not disagree more. A Consistant UI is king. Just look at say the past 24 years.

A consistent UI is Verizon's stance, and why their browser is still three menu levels down.

What you mention about customizing is fine for a small percentage of people. Most just want it to work as easily as possible.

I disagree. I think a ton of iPhone users would love to get rid of the Stock icon, for simple example. Heck, even Apple included a way to change the wallpaper and ringtones. It's the first thing anyone does with even POS phones.

This phone so far sounds like openmoko backed by bigger and more companies.

That was my first thought too. However, as I said, I'm for a more universal OS. Today you have to know BREW, Symbian, WM, OSX, MIDP, etc to hit all the phones.

edit: And i would like to add that come Feb. Apple's 3rd party support will prob. take care of a good chunk of those that like to customize without buying a phone from the Android platform.

So it sounds like customization ability is a desirable feature.

[Unspeaked]

So much for Apple's (rather short) stint as mobile darlings...

[jaw04005]

I read through Engadget's coverage of the announcement. It appears that Google is providing the core operating system, and other engineering such as the user interface is up to the individual carrier.

So, it's up to Motorola, HTC, etc to create a compelling user interface with a bundled application set. It doesn't sound all that exciting other than the fact that third-party applications will be portable from one Android-based phone to another.

At the most, an Android-based phone will interface and sync with Google's desktop software (Gears) and web-based services (Gmail, Calendar, Docs and Spreadsheets). Meh.

[phytonix]

Yes!
Put some pressure on Apple!!

[walangij]

This is exciting but like most everyone, I can't wait to see it instead of hear about it. I was super tempted to purchase an iPhone recently since my contract is coming to expire soon and visual voice would be so useful with the business I'm in right now, but I can wait and see, hope HTC has some attractive offerings.

[zap2]

Cool.....MS, Palm,Apple and Symbian(Nokia) feel the heat.

[mkrishnan]

It's curious that, unless I'm mistaken, the USA Today article's list of confederates to Google lists no carriers that use GSM at all. EDIT: Never mind, I see that Deutsche Telekom is listed elsewhere as being involved....

[Nick012]

What is Google's motivation in this? How will they 'monetize' this? Surely excellent integration with Google web services isn't really worth the R&D costs of developing Android? I haven't really read about this but I don't really see it. I might be missing something here...

[Rocketman]

1. Apple was first to market with a real computer and communicator in your hand, and based on a recent cross-country trip I did, AT&T EDGE despite its limitations is fast enough and vastly available nearly everywhere.

2. Apple has the obvuious patent ands ease of use leqad.

3. Apple has the obvious *nix (MICRO-BSD) lead in software and "services". It is well supported by medium to high end software vendors (via mac) and as people shift from focus on entry cost to total cost, Apple will continue to dominate the top 30% of the revenue tier.

4. Open is good in one way, but closed in another. Closed is better for uneducated and untrained end users. Open is far better for VAR's, Hobbiests, and Large-scale businesses (large now defined to address the internet era).

5. Apple will make a 28% margin on what they sell. The others are unlikely to in light of their low price marketing scheme.

Buy Apple stock.

Rocketman

[emotion]

Interesting development that's been coming for a while.

Competition for Apple should keep them on their toes and maybe even wake them up to focussing on their customers and maybe take their eyes of the money pots.

A Google OS based phone is 9-12 months off though. Apple can make useful headway in that time if their sensible and they stop doing stuff like trying to break iToner (!).

All that might come ver as Apple bashing but it's not. I'm buying an iPhone on Friday still.

[arn]

thoughts:

- Good to give Apple some high profile competition to keep them motivated
- This announcement was remarkably uninformative. We still don't know anything about it.
- I don't see how its tied to Google specifically

arn

[Nick012]

Originally Posted by arn

thoughts:

- I don't see how its tied to Google specifically

arn

They're producing the basic OS framework though right?

[emotion]

Originally Posted by arn

- Good to give Apple some high profile competition to keep them motivated
- This announcement was remarkably uninformative. We still don't know anything about it.
- I don't see how its tied to Google specifically

Y'know I can't help but think this might tie into the 3rd party strategy for Apple too. I don't know why other than the close link between the companies. Ad-supported apps (with real value of course)...maybe?

Originally Posted by Nick012

They're producing the basic OS framework though right?

So, a Google mobile desktop (with ads) coupled with their own mobile-centric linux distribution?

[Football1maniac]

Stupid stupid Apple and AT&T. Horrible move, Google is the wave of the future. You can't fight 30 other companies for market share, impossible. The iPhone is amazing, but last time I check, I can't afford an iPhone, nor can millions of other people out there who have cell phones.

Better shape up for something Apple, or else your going to end up with your head in your butt.

[arn]

Originally Posted by Nick012

They're producing the basic OS framework though right?

I guess I should have said, I don't see how this is going to necessarily help/profit Google. It sounds very open.

anr

[CANEHDN]

This is great news for the mobile phone market. Cell phones are going to see some major changes in the next 5 years. This is exciting. It'll definitely give Apple some major competition on the iPhone.

[emotion]

Originally Posted by Football1maniac

Stupid stupid Apple and AT&T. Horrible move, Google is the wave of the future. You can't fight 30 other companies for market share, impossible. The iPhone is amazing, but last time I check, I can't afford an iPhone, nor can millions of other people out there who have cell phones.

I suspect over the year the price will come down, a lot. They don't get these made in China by shoeless children for nothing you know. Err or they do depends on how you look at it.

Originally Posted by arn

I guess I should have said, I don't see how this is going to necessarily help/profit Google. It sounds very open.

Adverts on their custom "desktop". No-one's subsidised mobile phones with ads yet. If anyone can it'll be Google.

Whether people like that is another thing.

[CANEHDN]

Originally Posted by arn

I guess I should have said, I don't see how this is going to necessarily help/profit Google. It sounds very open.

anr

It's probably going to have a lot of the goolge ad stuff that they make so much money on.

[thunderclap]

Originally Posted by arn

I guess I should have said, I don't see how this is going to necessarily help/profit Google. It sounds very open.

My guess is ads. I could be wrong but I believe that's their core avenue of profit. They will probably deliver ads directly to your phone.