Does Google have what it takes to supplant (or even compete against) the dominating Apple IPhone as reigning king of the smart phones? Only time will tell, but after this weekend it seems evident that the time to find out is drawing near.
Although details are still sketchy, it has been confirmed in a tidal wave of attention this past weekend that Google is in fact preparing its own smart phone device running its Android mobile operating system (the phone is currently being called the “Nexus One”).
Whether you like them or not, you gotta admit that on the surface it sounds pretty cool. It is such an intriguing proposition that the sky has been the limit on the speculated impact of such a move.
Why, just on the surface it makes me wonder if Google has an ultimate strategy to bypass the carriers and provide phone services via the Internet with their own version of Vonage (only with a better jingle!). Could they pull it off? How would it change things?
Currently little is known about specifics of the device (to be manufactured by HTC of Taiwan) or Google’s plans for it. However it seems clear that Google plans to sell the device online and not through traditional cell phone sales methods where consumers acquire the phone from their carrier in exchange for a long term contract. For example, the phone could be sold at Amazon.com for instance, and at the time of purchase the consumer would select their carrier network from a list of participating carriers.
T-Mobile is said to be the only carrier interested in pursuing this new distribution model with Google – which seems to be a must-change situation for Google to shake things up beyond media frenzy. But then again, the IPhone only runs on the AT&T network.
Regardless of how this all shakes out, it is obvious that Google has the notoriety to stir the pot as well as anybody. They also have the Internet clout, the cash, and the technology to take on the old guard (telecomm carriers) and beat them at an old game with a new Google twist.
It will definitely be entertaining to watch it unfold in 2010 – anybody want popcorn?
