Over the weekend, Om Malik commented on a recent piece in the Wall Street Journal on delays in Google’s Android smart phone operating system here. Om’s observation is “welcome to phone business, Google.”
The article quotes Google’s Andy Rubin on some of the tribulations Google has faced in getting Android ready for release with forthcoming TMobile smart phones.
What Om missed in his post however, is this: Andy Rubin is one of the few Valley executives—other than Apple’s Steve Jobs-- who has real experience dealing with cellular carriers. Before starting Android software (which was acquired by Google), Rubin co founded Danger Research, which developed the Sidekick smart phone platform which was sold for use by TMobile on its network.
I believe Google’s Android platform has the potential to throw a giant monkey wrench in Apple’s plans and mid-term success for its iPhone. Unlike Apple, which is relying heavily on the Kleiner Perkins’ administered iFund to attract developers, Google has the workforce, wherewithal and pocket book to lure top-notched developers to Android. And it can do this without the intrusive over watch of a third-party venture capital firm.
Let’s see which platform will consumers vote for with their pocket books: Android developed by a company that’s synonymous with the internet; or the iPhone, which will be two or three years old when the Android steam roller picks up momentum.
I can hardly wait to see how this tussle shakes out. I think it’s going to be fun to watch.—Jim Forbes 06./23/2008.
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