Techies are going crazy over the possibility that Google might design and sell its own Android phone. Some writers say it's a very big deal. Reiter questions whether it will happen and, if it does, whether it even matters.
I'm sorry I didn't reply sooner to your comment about the then-pending Google Phone. I guess I missed it.
I know a lot of people were -- and still are -- concerned about Google's access to personal data. Now that the Google Phone -- the Nexus One -- has been on the market for months, it doesn't seem to have generated any more -- or less (fewer) -- privacy concerns.
Indeed, the Nexus One isn't selling as well as, I assume, Google had hoped it would.
Still, Google's presence will continue to be huge in smartphones with the numerous versions of Android handsets on the market. And the strong possibility of Android tablets and Chrome OS netbooks this year will only add to concerns about data privacy.
it's about data. a new google phone will allow Google to:
1. know all your contacts, if they don't have them already via gmail
2. know every call you make/receive
3. know your location at every moment, with perfect history
Now think Media Mixing: what is the unexplored frontier of Advertising in new media? sound. so you get your free google phone(or whatever the fee), and depending on your location, or anything else about you, google starts mixing in low volume advertising through a "mixed-in" audio channel. want your conversation "ad free", you can buy your way out of that(just like on the web)
Everyone should run as fast as they can away from the Google phone. Who cares if they have some Google widgets or other whiz-bang features. A Google phone comes at a steep price
Most Android applications will work on all Android phones. However, there are exceptions.
If an application is designed to work with certain functions, such as a compass, higher resolution screen, trackball, etc. it might not work or work as well on phones that don't have a specific feature.
That's even the case with iPhones. The 3GS has a compass, a three megapixel camera and macro mode. Some apps are designed to work with those features.
This is a classic problem of developing for cellular phones, of course, and developers understand the concept. After all, Apple supposedly asked some iPhone developers to rework their applications to scale to screens larger than the iPhone. iSlate?
I think if you purchase an Android application, it may be downloaded to multiple phones because Android Market is based on your Gmail account. I haven't tried this, though.
Google doesn't care about challenging the iPhone perse. Google's strategy is to get more people online to view its advertisements, regardless of the type of device -- computer, portable computer, phone, iPod touch-type product, etc.
Phones with Android have Google applications as standard which, of course, encourage people to see Google ads when they are connected.
The problem with going after lower-tier consumers is that data plans cost money. So focusing on those customers -- who won't spend for data -- doesn't make sense.
Although I hate the ridiculous hype over Apple products, which often are too expensive and sacrifice features and ergonomics for "cool," I've got to hand it to Apple with the iPhone.
The OS is brilliant, and the iTunes sideloading of apps is genius -- and the rest of the cellular phone industry should be rightly castigated for not "getting it" until the iPhone came along.
Android's OS is better than some operating systems in some respects, such as Windows Mobile and BlackBerry, but I don't know if it's better than Palm's webOS, and it's certainly not as easy to use as the iPhone's. However, I think Android will continue to improve and capture a significant share of the market.
If all the leaks, rumors and supposedly confirmed information about the new Google Phone (i.e., HTC) are correct, it has a few nice features, but it's no iPhone killer. Indeed, if the rumors about Motorola's Android phone, Shadow, are true, it will have a 4.3" WVGA screen and an eight megapixel camera -- which could be significantly better than the so-called Google Phone.
But if the Googe Phone simply increases peoples' good impression of Android phones, that will be enough. Not a revolution, but another step in Android's growth.
Switching to a Google phone will depend on price, carrier and features.
1. How much will the Google Phone cost? Will it be subsidized or unsubsidized or both?
2. Will it be unlocked and work on GSM carriers AT&T and T-Mobile? I don't know of any phone that works on both AT&T and T-Mobile 3G frequencies; today's U.S. 3G phones work on either AT&T or T-Mobile, and it works on the "other" carrier on EDGE.
3. Will there be enough features to get a cellular subscriber to switch to a Google phone, especially if the subscriber has to switch cellular operators?
We don't know the answer to any of these questions.
My assumption is the Google Phone will be a very good HTC phone, but probably not dramatically different or even better than the other Android phones on the market. We're also assuming it will be GSM, although it could be CDMA or two versions.
I assume, though, that the first phone will be GSM because of GSM's SIM card flexibility and worldwide coverage.
As I wrote, perhaps Google could offer some enticing features, such as lower cost VoIP calls through its Gizmo5 purchase.
"Google wants the world to be on the Internet and to use Google applications, which will put Google ads in front of them", that is true. But for Google to profit from Google Phone, people have to be interested first and buy it, otherwise investing in a widescaled phone business will be a total failure. I wonder how many people will be ready to switch to Google phone.
There have been reports that Google could go both ways. That is, it will offer an unsubsidized phone and a subsidized phone. One report says T-Mobile will be handling some of the distribution.
All of this is unsubstantiated.
These sorts of phones, as I noted, typically cost at least $400 unsubsidized. They can be $600 or even higher without carrier subsidies.
Google could probably afford to subsidize the phones, but it certainly would be expensive if they sell them at, say, $200 or even less. There are rumors, for example, that some of the computers with Chrome OS will be very inexpensive, such as $200 or even less.
Google wants the world to be on the Internet and to use Google applications, which will put Google ads in front of them.
If Google indeed sells its own phone, using HTC hardware, I really don't think it could do much that other hardware vendors couldn't do, as I said in the video. Google isn't a hardware vendors, so it's relying on HTC's expertise, assuming HTC is the manufacturer.
Is all this good for shareholders? If Google's revenues increase significantly because millions of more people are viewing and clicking on Google ads, it could be good for shareholders.
LED lightbulbs will be used not only for home and business lighting automation, but possibly also for locating shoppers inside stores and transmitting data at hundreds of megabits per second.
Businesses helped neighbors with Internet access and mobile device charge-ups during Sandra. Following that example, enterprises should consider preparing Internet disaster plans to help the public during disasters.
New York's Metropolitan Transit Authority is conducting a pilot test of digital kiosks to guide subway users to where they want to go more efficiently and at lower cost.
A survey by JD Powers found that customer interest in product features is lessening as phones evolve. Rather than features, price is driving purchases, and that change could have a dramatic impact on how IT departments secure these devices.
For the frazzled, hurried consumer, waiting in line has become a major bugaboo. A survey by Great Clips has found that 94 percent will wait less than 10 minutes to check out at a store. Self-check-in has become popular among airlines and is now making its way into the retail marketplace. Using smartphones, consumers can order items and pick them up, cutting down on their wait time.
Google is reportedly working on a pair of Android glasses that will use a low-resolution built-in camera to monitor the world in real time and overlay information about locations, surrounding buildings, and friends who might be nearby. Interested?
We think Amazon's Kindle Fire is pushing Apple to a smaller iPad format. But Sony's Vita and the interest in a small device for portable gaming may create the real threat. Keep your eye on the tablet-gaming space!
Google Maps 6.0 helps users navigate indoor locations like IKEA and airports. While this sounds good, Nicole fears it will also breed dumber humans who bump into each other a lot, or something.
The IBM Smarter Commerce Global Summit in Monaco kicked into high gear today, and we've already begun to see news emerging from that lovely city-state by the sea.
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