| Was Android the game changer or will the Google Nexus shake things up even more? |
| Written by Patanjali Somayaji, Director, Engineering, Azingo |
| Tuesday, 15 December 2009 22:11 |
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All indications are that the Google Phone is for real, with a heavy following of tweets, blogs, photos and news.
Google and the issue of its control over the Android platform and services have already made operators nervous in the past. Operators continue to tread warily when it comes to Android adoption - hedging bets but not wanting to miss out on the promised application ecosystem. The recent Google phone move (although an obvious next step for Google) will surely give OEMs cause for thought.
There are two core issues that OEMs have to grapple with. A Google phone means that Google is angling for the same handset volumes that the OEMs are targeting with their devices, and puts them into direct competition with their platform software supplier. It remains to be seen what Google's retail strategy is, but the fact remains that they can leverage a great online brand and go directly to the consumer (even Google's IPO was online). The platform-strategy-plagued OEMs saviour could quite well turn into their worst nightmare. Moreover, a Google phone means that Google will always be in the lead position to deliver the latest and greatest Android experience while all the OEMs are likely to lag behind. This will undoubtedly lead to doubt in the OEMs' minds. Wait and watch - the smartphone market just got more interesting - at Silicon-valley speed!
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