Do Androids dream of Google sheep?

24-09-2008

by Ralph Averbuch

Google has, with apparently no effort whatsoever, managed to gather vast amounts of media coverage over the recent announcement in New York of the first handset to carry the Google mobile OS (it's a T-Mobile unit built by HTC). From the initial shots the OS, called Android and based on Linux, looks perfectly respectable, with all the usual functions you've come to expect of an advanced web-aware operating system aimed at smart phones. It almost certainly puts yet more pressure on Microsoft and its efforts to have Windows Mobile gain traction as an OS player in the mobile space, and puts nails in the coffin of any other start-ups hoping to grab a piece of the mobile action in operating systems. That's because it's free. It's going to cost next to nothing for far eastern contract builders to opt for Android, safe in the knowledge it will become a widely supported platform with loads of third party vendors supporting an army of mobile apps, and all because Google has the clout to sprinkle its angel dust on just about anything it decides to do. That's the power of the brand. People will feel confident developing for Android, knowing it has the backing of the net's current 800lb gorilla. It also shows once again that Google is faultless at creating opportunities for new growth. The company and its brain trust knows full well that the web through your PC can only go so far and that the next leap will be to full internet and email access anywhere, any time. And when you need to find something... well you'll just Google it, won't you?