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At first, Android was simply Google's bold answer to the arrogant, visionless mobile telephone companies' closed approach to trying to control their prized markets - and of course to iPhone's fantastic blockbuster releases. Referring to the carriers, they said, "if these bloated, slow-burner, motionless companies are going to try and control our access to their customers, then we will end them." And they will.
So, it is comical to watch all the mobile companies scramble to start their own Android-based devices - in a late effort to throw up some kind of competition to iPhone - although they are unwittingly feeding their own eventual demise by doing this.** The reason is simple - they have no vision. This disables their ability to see outside of what they thought mobility was to what it actually is - or was becoming - or had become.
What they had to first realise is that iPhone became an issue to them because they ignored the important movement to go from the old model phones to smart phones. They were trying to grow their old OS out into a smart phone type device, so they could keep their grip on the control of their customers and their rankid business models - but their lack of pace and individual groupings failed them. Furthermore, they took the "wait and see" approach, maybe assuming Apple would flounder at trying to enter their world. How very wrong they were. Apple's "first-mover" approach was the killer. Not first to offer a smart phone, just the first to do it with style - and they used their hype engine to keep believers hooked in and in the process dragged along new believers in the multi-millions.
RIM did superbly as they realised years back that the Enterprise users were actually quite technically challenged, but still wanted to be in constant communication. Phone with Email. They got market share, although will lose it eventually to Android. At least they did well and went for a segment with secure services and did it simply and elegantly.
Microsoft is not the solution, but at least they saw the need for a smart phone earlier - but their problem was like having two arrogant bricks bashing away at each other. Also, MS was just following a trend - nothing disruptive.
Windows smart phones will become history, as will Docomo's i-mode, symbian and will finally leave Android and iPhone battling it out. Steve Jobs is a champion and has done wonderful things. iPhone and iPad will continue for a long while and may even outlive Jobs. What more can Apple do?. ***
Now, this beast that is the world's answer to becoming mobile AND free - a revolution in itself - is growing rapidly to becoming THE device operating system. It is being embraced by all the major device manufacturers who now have a way to avoid the license spiral trap that Microsoft created. They have a way to offer a similar experience to iPhone. They have a way to offer interactive, network-connected Televisions, games, home appliances and much more. There is no limit to what Android can be used for with devices. It will become the defacto multi-media platform standard OS.
The next big question is - how to maintain all these different devices?
Funambol is the solution. Many parts of it are open source, but some parts are not open - and these parts are key for some large carriers and enterprise that have a need to manage millions of different devices using Android. Funambol's DM Server (Device Manager) allows you to completely manage any (Android) devices;
- The OS and updates
- Any Software and updates
- Device Owner Management (WiMAX over UDP, ID over SMS Push)
- Device Lock , Delete and Reload
- Data Migration
With the above features, you could have one DM Server managing;
- Game Devices
- Mobile Phones
- Office Phones
- Televisions
- PCs
- Home Appliances (Fridge, Air Conditioner, Security, etc)
Funambol also offers a DS Server (Data Synchronisation) which follows the SyncML standard for data delivery and therefore allows any device to also synchronise any data. Examples of some free clients available for synchronising business data (Contacts, Calendar, Tasks, Notes) are;
- Free Outlook Plugin
- Free iPhone Application
- Free iPod Application
- Free MS Smartphone Application
- Free Android Application
- Free Blackberry Application
Notice the word "Free"? All these clients are from the open source community and can be downloaded, installed and used to Synchronise - via Funambol DS Server - with many servers, such as;
- Open-Xchange
- MS Exchange
- Lotus Notes
- SugarCRM
- Zimbra
- Many others
So, if you want to get in the game, Android development, particularly Applications, as well as device management - will be a key element going forward.
** Why would Google want to release Android? To become a mobile phone operator? Not necessarily. It is so they have a wider audience for their services - with no barriers. iPhone could block them - and did with their Voice Application. YouTube and Adobe were blocked for its Flash with iPhone. Non-smart phones are just not equipped to handle multi-media experiences. When all the mobile devices become Androided, then Google will have perfect access to deliver more and more of their services to more and more people. (What the blind mobile companies don't see is that not only will the use of the normal cell-phone eventually disappear, but they don't have any competing services to deliver, so they are handing Google a bar of gold on a silver platter, covered with polished pearls!)
*** All Apple has to do is open up (either fully or at least certain core features) to let other service providers offer services and allow them to synchronise the data and services with their users. Now is fine for Apple - they are enjoying great success with little competition - and they are cool, but after Android-based devices catch up, they will be feeling the pain. Not to mention that a world-wide community of developers will be working on Android - compared to Apple-only employees. Go figure..