Last November Internet Goliath Google looked poised to rock the cell phone world to its core with a promise of an affordable open source mobile operating system Android - first promised to arrive mid-2008. Six months later Google's grand cell phone coming-out party, which included 30 big-named partners, looks to be postponed.
Sprint, which was originally part of the 30-member Open Handset Alliance, now says it's considering scrapping plans for an Android phone based on its 3G offering opting to delay an Android roll-out for when it debuts its zippy 4G service, according to reports. Google is backpedaling as well telling The Wall Street Journal its mobile platform Android won't be ready until the fourth quarter. China Mobile has pushed back a 2008 release of an Android handset until 2009. AT&T, which is not part of the Open Handset Alliance, told the WSJ it's still tying to determine the feasibility of going to market with an Android phone.
T-Mobile is the exception and stands by its commitment to deliver an Android-handset by the end of 2008.
Despite reports of waning Android support Google maintains everything is on track telling news Web site ChannelWeb that it's on schedule to deliver an Android-handset by the year's end.
Android Loses its Mojo
To blame for Android handset delays is the success of Apple's iPhone and Google's inability to put the finishing touches on Android.
Developers are saying that it's much easier to develop mobile applications for the white-hot Apple iPhone as opposed to the unfinished Android OS. That's because writing software applications for the iPhone is very similar to writing software for Apple's Macintosh operating system - which many developers are already familiar with. Developers are also likely flocking to create applications for the iPhone (over Android) given Apple says it expects to ship 10 million iPhones this year - compared to Google's zero Android-based handsets. To state the obvious, developers stand to make a lot more money with Apple in the short term than with Google.
A second speed bump for Android is that software developers are complaining Google continues to make changes to the software without finalizing the code. That makes it difficult for other software developers to create programs that work with Android.
Still others wireless carriers such as China Mobile are having trouble customizing Android to meet their needs. China Mobile, the Journal says, is hitting snags translating Android software from Roman characters into Chinese.
With Android Google is attempting to break the existing cell phone business rules creating a more open and less expensive mobile platform to be given away free to handset makers. Currently cell phone companies use a mismatch of mobile operating systems each essentially closed to uninvited developers.
The flexibility Android offers handset makers and developers has turned out to be both a blessing and curse. If Google's Android platform takes off than developers could stand to mint a fortune with minimum headaches. That's because they could develop mobile applications once and have them run on any Android handset. Right now developers have to create separate compatible applications for each carrier or handset - whether it's Apple's iPhone or Sprint's.
Unfortunately your article is only partially correct. Sprint is not considering scrapping Android. Doing a little investigative research would uncover Sprint thinking about branding the software around their own services. This is exactly what Google has in mind for Android - allowing carriers to use their software to tailor the phone. You are not restricted to GMAIL, Google Maps, etc. Build the OS around their network and services.
Also, Sprint is only thinking about dropping plans for an Android phone on the 3G network and developing one that will work on the faster "4G" network it is helping to fund along with several partners, including Google, the person adds. Guess who one of those partners is... It rhymes with SCHNOOGLE. What's wrong with taking revolutionary software and applying towards a new, lightning fast network?
Please be careful not to disseminate half-truths.