Published by the government of Zimbabwe
10 November 2007
Harare — Google finally unveiled its new mobile initiative this week, but will it pose a threat to Microsoft's aim of mobile dominance?
There were quite a few surprises to find when Google took the lid off of its highly secretive mobile platform initiative. But we'll start off by saying that just like Apple's entry into the mobile market was expected to be seriously multimedia oriented, it was expected that Google's entry would be seriously Internet-oriented.
For those hoping for a gPhone, Android obviously looks like a big yawn, but for a company aiming to maintain its massive Internet reach, solo projects are literally a dead end. And if they are ever going to take a stab at Microsoft's regime, they'll simply also need a broad industry reach, just like Microsoft has today. As such, the biggest surprise was that Google actually has managed to get the three key holders of the future mobile development to join their initiative; namely Intel, Broadcom and Qualcomm. Regardless of manufacturers, carriers and service providers, these three companies are gold worth to Google.
If Google manages to keep an open dialogue with all three companies in the long run, there's a good chance that we'll see Google reaching its most obvious goal at least; the mobile Web and the Web goes hand in hand into the future, and eventually becomes one seamless Web.
Other surprises were to find Sprint and HTC on the list. As we all know, Sprint will start rolling out mobile WiMAX next year; while HTC will unveil Intel-based Mobile Internet Devices taking advantage of that network. Just as interesting, although we haven't seen it in person, HTC has already created a prototype of a mobile device that is supposed to run Android.
However, perhaps next year already, we may see Intel-based Mobile Internet Devices powered by the Android platform (which currently supports Ubuntu, Windows XP and Vista). This again means that Google in the years to come may attract computer giants such as Dell, HP and Toshiba. One thing is for sure though; Microsoft is in serious need of new mobile strategies if they want the masses to use Windows platforms when browsing the mobile Internet in the future.
Fortunately for Microsoft fans, the company is already working on its next-gen mobile platform, which will breed business and consumer needs while at the same time talking seamlessly with Windows computers. Only time will tell whether it is Microsoft or Google's initiative that holds the platform providing our future needs, but most likely the market will end up divided between many players.
And, incidentally, there we have yet another good reason for why open platforms and standards are a key in the future.
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