Nov 20 2007
Concerns with Android and the Open Handset Alliance
As far as new announcements go, the Android one was huge.
Google is a giant not just on the web but in business in general but to team up with 33 other companies like HTC, Intel, nVidia, Qualcomm, SiRF, T-Mobile, Sprint and Broadcomm to name a few is just colossus.
BUT I have some grave concerns:
The Open Handset Alliance (OHA) as its named is here to give an open platform, not just to lower costs for us the end users to but to give developers an opportunity to produce applications and offer services without boundaries. The official statement is:
“Welcome to the Open Handset Alliance™, a group of more than 30 technology and mobile companies who have come together to accelerate innovation in mobile and offer consumers a richer, less expensive, and better mobile experience. Together we have developed Android™, the first complete, open, and free mobile platform.”
So why am I worried?…
You look at the list of companies involved and you will find 7 mobile operators, the same operators that constantly lock down phones, cripple data tariffs, turn off device features, remove OEM provided applications, prevent certain types of traffic transversing their networks and generally hinder development of the industry. They will do anything possible to slow and even prevent voice over IP on their networks and this alone is holding back GSM and CDMA networks, then there is the constant turning off of device features; memories of RIM turning off the curves GPS features and no Live Messenger for Orange users. These types practices don’t inspire confidence for the future.
Google by its own admissions states that once a device lands in the hands of the operators they no longer have any control, by the very nature of the ‘open’ format, the operators can change the operating system to their own specification, turning on and off features as they see fit.
I really can’t wait for the first Android devices to come to market, it really is exciting times in the market but I just hope the operators don’t damage would could potentially be revolutionary.
No responses yet