By Natasha Lomas, 10 July 2009 13:22
...there are currently two in the market and a third hitting shelves soon. The G1, made by HTC and exclusive to T-Mobile, was the first Android handset to launch; followed by the HTC Magic, exclusive to Vodafone. The third device is called the HTC Hero (confusingly also known as the G1 Touch) which is due to ship soon.
The Hero illustrates an interesting aspect of the Android strategy - it's being skinned with a UI made by HTC rather than with the Android UI that's on both the G1 and the Magic.
Rather than go for an Apple-esque 'one phone to rule them all' play, Google's aiming for a strategy that will lead to an army of Android devices, made by different handset makers and sporting various flavours of UI.
What about other types of Android-powered hardware?
Android's potential as a netbook OS has got analysts rather excited - with Ovum predicting Android-powered mini laptops will land this year and that Google's OS will overtake Linux as the platform of choice for low-end devices. Netbook maker Acer for one has put its head above the parapet and said it will issue an Android-powered netbook later this year.
However, Android looks set to be limited to low-end netbooks and 'mobile internet devices' as it ventures outside the smartphone arena, as Google has now announced it is diving into the desktop OS market proper next year, with another Linux offering called Chrome OS. It's being targeted at higher end netbooks thereby capping Android's ambitions in this space.
Talking of the L word - what about mobile Linux? Aren't there already open source mobile Linux offerings and alliances out there? Where does Google's Android fit in with that lot?
Mobile Linux has been doing its thing for years - long before Android arrived on the scene - but the problem it has traditionally had is keeping everyone on the same path. At times there have been several parallel mobile Linux efforts on the go so the movement has been accused of fragmentation.
One of Google's stated hopes for Android has therefore been to unite mobile Linux's efforts - behind its version of mobile Linux of course.
That said, a coalition of tech companies called The LiMo Foundation has sent more than 30 LiMo handset models into the market - albeit with many devices focused on the Japanese market. The Foundation says it will release an SDK later this year but clearly has a lot of catching up to do with Android on the developer front.
What about business? Are Android devices heading to the enterprise?
It's probably safe to say they are not storming the enterprise bastion just yet - certainly not by the front door as there is no official Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync support as yet (third party apps do offer syncing though).
That said, Robert Ainger, director of corporate marketing at Orange - which will be offering the HTC Hero when it ships - recently told silicon.com its business customers had been asking for Android - in a 'we're keen to kick the tyres and find out a bit more' kind of way. So, given it a bit more time, perhaps Android might start meaning more in the business space.
Comments
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1. Bobby
I can't believe you talk about "open phones" and totally skip FIC's Neo phones running Openmoko!
I own a Neo 1973, so I can speak pretty confidently when I say you can buy an open phone right now. Trolltech quit manufacturing the Greenphone when the Neo came out, because it fills the role of an open developer friendly phone.
The firmware for the GSM is closed, but I believe that's a legal requirement in most areas.
The Neo 1973 & Neo FreeRunner are linux ARM computers with full GPS, bluetooth, GSM/GPRS, USB (client & unpowered host) and 480 x 640 touchscreens. The FreeRunner also has two accelerometers and wi-fi. You can only buy the Neo 1973 used now, since FIC is gearing up production lines for the FreeRunner, available in March or April. Unfortunately, the software won't be end-user ready at that time :-( but my neo works fine as my primary cell phone now, so if you're a developer interested in an open phone, you're crazy not to buy one.
You can (of course) play video, music, and run PDA apps on the devices. You can also view PDFs and the web, use bluetooth keyboards (or bluetooth anything else, for that matter), or do anything that you or someone else cares to port from the desktop, assuming the hardware resources are sufficient.
I've been playing with my Neo 1973 (currently recommended only for people willing to debug, and tolerate alpha level software) for a few weeks, and I'm having a great time with it.
Not only the software is open - you can get CAD files for the case, and schematics as well. There are also i2c, etc. bus standards used so adding new hardware is easy as well, if you're so inclined. Obviously the real market there is for a cottage industry distributing neos with extra hardware built-in, but the hobbyist can experiment at home, too.
2. Anonymous Poster
I am very glad that Google is getting involved in the mobile phone market. These cell phone companies are working with archaic business models that need a good thrashing.
Google SMS, for example, is an already-existing cell phone service where you can text questions to a Google server. You can ask for directions, phone numbers, even odd questions like "What's the population of Japan?". All for free.
In the meantime cell phone companies want to charge you $2-3 for a crappy sub-100 kbps MP3 ringtone, while iTunes charges you only 99 cents for the WHOLE SONG, in a LOSSLESS AUDIO FORMAT!
3. Ander
In Google We Trust. But please please PLEASE, Google, don't be evil. If we give them our phones, they'll have us by the balls. But i trust them. i think.
4. Richard
Bobby -
That's great about that "open" manufacturer you talk about, but come on dude, no one has ever heard of them and, in this mobile industry, you need clout and support from the industry.