The New York Times is reporting that the much-hyped “Google phone” isn’t going to be a dedicated device, but a mobile Linux-based operating system and suite of software that will run on phones made by others. This is more or less what many Google-watchers expected (including me — I wrote a column about the speculation for the Globe awhile back, which is here).
The idea of Google actually getting into the hardware game never made any sense to me, and still doesn’t. The idea of a compact, cross-platform mobile OS with Google software like a free (ad-supported) browser built in, however, makes a huge amount of sense to me. That would pretty much take the war to Microsoft’s doorstep, since it would compete head-on with Windows Mobile — and it’s about time that someone did, since Windows Mobile is still miles away from what it could be.
If Google’s mobile OS is free, light and fast, it could make a serious dent in the mobile market.
Mathew
posted this article under Google, Mobile on Monday, October 8th, 2007 at 10:59 am. .
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And the advantage goes to Microsoft - this is what we've been waiting for. Everyone who has tried to beat MS has failed. Coming out with a Linux based mobile operating is not a trivial thing to pull off - and it takes them right into the lions den.
I'm a technology writer with The Globe and Mail in Toronto, and this is where I blog about things I come across on the Web. Feel free to leave a comment or use the contact form to send me an email.
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Game on indeed!
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