When Google first started the Open Handset Alliance, they promised to provide software and not delve into hardware platforms. Today, as they released the Nexus One phone, they’ve totally destroyed an grouping that had the potential to take on the might of Apple.
Take a look at Motorola and to some extent Samsung. Motorola have basically used their last dying gasp of breath to create Android phones such as the Droid and the Cliq. These devices would have always been decent hardware but terrible software when using a Motorola operating system. Until today, the Droid was the hottest Android phone out there with Android version 2.0.1, a large screen and a relatively fast processor. Today though, all the money spent on developing and promoting the Droid is irrelevant as there is a bigger, better and badder phone on the block.
Sure, technology moves on but the important issue here is that this is a Google phone with the latest hardware and software, not a partner device. The big G’s intents here are fairly obvious, they want to run Android and partners be damned. Sure you can technically buy any other Android device you’d be fairly stupid to do this considering the technical advances of the Nexus One.
As a partner in the Open Handset Alliance I’d pretty much give up the game as the precedent has been set, Google made hardware will seemingly always be the top of the pile. In addition to this, devices such as the Nook and (as an example) tablets that use Android are not considered certified devices as they are not cellphone’s and are unable to access the app market.
Maybe it’s just me but this all seems a bit draconian for a company that has a mission statement to “do no evil”
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You make good points Saul. One thing I do appreciate about the Nexus is the low price -it will come in at $530 unlocked. The price alone will force other OHA members to start making better handsets at better prices. I mean, a snapdragon processor, OLED screen etc for that price is brilliant. At the end of the day we as consumers will get better phones.
I think regarding their broken promise we should take into account that the other OHA members have no real alternative ito OS. Windows Mobile is a joke, and Symbian is showing its age…
This will also give us a clear indication what Apple would see as the minimum bar to compete with in the next iPhone. OLED screen and 1GHz+ ? Great.
As an addition, they’ve also undercut the price of the Droid making it a fairly superfluous device.