The Google OS: Android Officially Announced

Today, Google has announced it's new OS, named Android. --"Google along with 33 other companies are announcing Android, the first truly integrated mobile operating system. ... What's particularly notable is that it's available under a mobile open source license. It's incredibly important to say that this is NOT an announcement of the 'Gphone'... we hope there will be thousands of 'Gphones'"--

Google is working with T-Mobile who have committed to creating a device to run the OS for it's European customers in 2008. HTC says it plans to release the first device to run the new OS exclusively in 2008.

The way I see it, Microsoft just took a big hit. Palm could see some trouble from this and so could the iPhone. The iPhone's attachment to AT&T will cause it problems when manufactures start producing devices with Android installed.

HTC just handed Microsoft a big "see ya!" sorta. Microsoft has been trying to catch up with Google innovation on the web. Now they stand to lose their foot hold in the mobile phone market with leaders such as HTC looking to build competitive devices.

This is going to get interesting.

Comments

[Contributing Writer, Aaron J. Walker]

I think Palm will be taking the much bigger hit than Microsoft, RIM or even Nokia.

Palm should have had this done years ago, then this whole Google announcement wouldn't be attracting nearly the attention it is getting.

Microsoft, RIM and Nokia have a lloooooooonnnggg headstart over Google with their OS and installed devices. The first Google phone won't even be seen until the middle of next year, that's longer than Apple to get to market once they made their official announcement, and then, Steve Jobs had a working prototype.

Google's announcement is a lot like Palm's: we're going to do this but you won't see it for awhile but when you do, it's going to be great.

We see where that tactic has gotten Palm.

Sure, I trust Google to do what they say more than Palm at the moment. But, just like with Palm, while Google is lining things up with their partners, I wouldn't expect Microsoft, RIM, Apple or Nokia to be standing around waiting for them to join the party.

Wonder what the Elevation Partners are saying now?

[Mpaper]

It really boils down to one simple fact. The public for the most part sympathizes with a wounded animal, not with a company. Palm is wounded, and Microsoft is taking a lot shots. The public sees this and feeds off of it. RIM, Apple and Google are all rising because of perception. They're hot. If you want to make it in business, 9 times out of ten, you have to connect with what is hot. That doesn't mean it's right or good, it's just hot, and you must adapt or be lost in the wilderness. At one time CircuitCity was hot. They didn't adapt, BestBuy eats their lunch.

Apple, Google and RIM are hot right now. Even when they are wrong they can do no wrong. The sex appeal has already been established. Palm has sat themselves in Archie Bunker's chair. Their old, cranky and what they do makes us laugh. They're not adapting, and frankly, neither is Microsoft. Don't sleep on this, today's announcement is big.