Through years of speculation, we could only anticipate (and pray) that the “G-Phone” would be coming at some point. Today, Google is dropping the “T-Mobile G1 with Google” mobile phone running Google’s shiny new Android mobile operating system. Extremely good for the mobile market, this could prove to be the only competition Apple and the iPhone truly have.
Google’s Android development platform is pretty much the opposite of what Apple has created with the iPhone SDK. Google is going for a completely open platform where developers can openly discuss and share code, as apposed to Apple’s closed environment protected by NDA agreements and cold app store rejections. Alongside Android, Google is launching an iPhone-like app store call the Android Market. A previous explanation sums it up best:
The entire approach for both side goes back to the respective companies and their core beliefs on development. Where Google finds solace in sharing code with the rest of the world, Apple keeps its code proprietary and protects it like a nuclear missile. Google’s push with Android lends itself to being sold with numerous hardware options, similar to Microsoft and Windows (you can buy a Dell, Gateway, Toshiba or Sony all running Windows). If Google has things go their way, the same would happen with Android (you could buy an HTC, Motorola, LG, or any hardware maker capable of running Android). But things get mucky this way, and its a sure fire way to lose control of a seamless user experience while needing to integrate with multiple handsets. While open development is a beautiful thing, if not well moderated (like Wordpress for example), the entire project can turn into a bloated mess. With Google’s “free-for-all” Android Market, it seems this could easily be the case.
Albeit a completely different approach, Apple’s closed ecosystem works for them. You will never be able to buy a mobile phone that has not been designed by Apple, running their OS. The mistakes Apple made with the Mac early on have been circumvented with their current plan for Global Domination. By pushing through the mobile market and making the iPhone available globally, Apple is avoiding the troubles that may come from being a closed ecosystem.
Both development methods stem deep into the core principles each company holds. Only time will tell if Google can attract the developers and keep the Android platform shiny and running clean. For the sake of the industry, it would be nice to see some competition in the market place so innovation doesn’t grow stale (on both ends).
To get even more familiar with Android and what you can expect, Gizmodo’s Matt Buchanan has put together a nice list of 5 reasons why you’ll love Android, and 5 reasons why you might shy away. The T-Mobile, Google Android Event kicks off today at 9am Eastern. You can catch a liveblog of the event over at the usual spot, and check back on the T-Mobile website for an on-demand version of the event.
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