For Google's Android phone, it's what's inside that countsNEW YORK--Google's first Android phone may not win any beauty contests, but the smart phone's software and advanced Web browsing will give today's current crop of smart phones, including the iPhone, a run for their money.
T-Mobile's G1 (Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET Networks) From a hardware perspective, the G1 isn't a game changer. The device, which has a full QWERTY keyboard that slides out from a touch-screen exterior, looks similar to other devices on the market, such as the T-Mobile Sidekick or Verizon's LG Voyager. But under the hood, the Google Android software greatly improves the mobile Web experience for users, making it a compelling competitor to the Apple iPhone and a hands-down winner when compared with other smart phones like Research In Motion's BlackBerry or phones running Microsoft Windows Mobile operating system. That said, the G1 still has several hurdles to overcome to make a significant impact in the smartphone market. Because it lacks corporate email, it won't likely take significant market share from either RIM, which according to Gartner sold over 55 percent of smartphones in the second quarter of 2008, or Windows Mobile, which sold about 20 percent of the smartphones in the US in the second quarter. For now, G1 is targeted at the consumer market, a fact Cole Brodman, chief technology and innovation officer for T-Mobile USA, acknowledged openly during the launch event. Still, T-Mobile executives and Google's top mobile executives, Andy Rubin and Rich Miner, said that because the operating system is open, third-party developers could easily create an application to hook into corporate email. And eventually, G1 users could download the application from the Android Market on their devices.
"Not everyone who is interested in having a smart phone wants to check email all the time. The G1 is about bringing the Web experience onto a phone and letting people do things with their phone they couldn't do before."
--Leslie Grandy, VP of product development, T-Mobile USA
Not surprisingly, Scott Rockfeld, group product manager for Windows Mobile at Microsoft, sees the lack of corporate applications as a key weakness in the new device. "Our strategy is to provide one phone for your life," he said. "And that's not what Google is delivering with this phone. They don't support many of the business applications that users have come to expect in the business space. It's an entire area they completely ignored." But when it comes to Web surfing, Google has created a user experience superior to what's offered on most other smart phones today. And for T-Mobile this was critical as the company was looking for a smart phone to appeal to consumers looking for a robust mobile Web experience. "Not everyone who is interested in having a smart phone wants to check email all the time," said Leslie Grandy, vice president of product development for T-Mobile USA. "The G1 is about bringing the Web experience onto a phone and letting people do things with their phone they couldn't do before." Indeed, the G1 offers an experience that is hard to match on other smart phones. Google applications, such as Gmail and Google Search have been tightly integrated into the phone's directory, making it easy and intuitive to quickly send emails or forward Web links to contacts. The G1 also has embedded GPS capability that allows users to get Google Maps Street View on their phones. An internal compass even allows users to navigate and see where they're going by moving the phone in different directions. But when it comes to actually making an impact on the market in terms of sales, T-Mobile and Google will have their work cut out for them. Without corporate email support, it's unlikely the phone will take a significant market share away from the market leaders in the US, RIM and Windows Mobile--at least in the near term. Tags: Smart Phone, E-mail, T-Mobile G1, Google Android, Microsoft Windows Mobile |
- Talkback
-
ferdiei says...
...well missing out the corp clientele wont hurt the G1 (its the first gen) its just a matter of staying in focus while introducing a strong product & competing head-to-head with current crop of handhelds in the market. will this be an iphone VS android battle..up to the end? and winmo VS rim at the other end? now everyone's salivating...
Sep 25, 2008 08:32
...well missing out the corp clientele wont hurt the G1 (its the first gen) its just a matter of staying in focus while introducing a strong product & competing head-to-head with current crop of handhelds in the market. will this be an iphone VS android battle..up to the end? and winmo VS rim at the other end? now everyone's salivating...
Sep 25, 2008 08:32
ceevee369 says...
I reccomend CNet to link a full Android article to this release.
People want to know which software will and will not be compatible with Android - this first UI phone.
I am attracted but hesitate between this one (which should be sold unlocked) and the HTC HD - kind of two innovative devices.
Sep 28, 2008 18:35
I reccomend CNet to link a full Android article to this release.
People want to know which software will and will not be compatible with Android - this first UI phone.
I am attracted but hesitate between this one (which should be sold unlocked) and the HTC HD - kind of two innovative devices.
Sep 28, 2008 18:35
To post comments, you need to become a member. It's FREE.
