You’re reading the third and final part of “The Dilemma of Defining Google” series. Finally, the time has come to chat about Google’s anticipated long-term plans and contributions. We will finish up our search for finding those numerous ways in which they redefine the quality of our lives and make the world a better place.
In the previous two segments of this series we covered more than eight of Google's popular online services. For those of you that haven't followed the series from the beginning I strongly recommend taking a break right now to read the first two parts.
However, please keep in mind that I am not affiliated with Google and all of the predictions and rumors you're going to read throughout this article aren't guaranteed to happen. So let's not be misunderstood; we're foreseeing the future strictly on the publicly released information about the expected and currently under development projects. Things can change and claims about the future can go wrong.
Throughout this article we're going to discuss the rumors about Google's "Dream" Phone, opening up the social graphs, the future of social networks, online identities, common struggles of Web 2.0, Google's Lunar X PRIZE, and we won't close this series without naming a few Google online services currently under development.
That being said, let's get started! Are you ready?
Dream GPhone and Android
I bet you've heard about the latest Google Phone (often called GPhone) hype, right? Contrary to popular belief and recent expectations throughout the years, this phone won't be manufactured by just one company, but rather a collective in which there are 34 members. This consortium is the "Open Handset Alliance™."
Their primary goal is to develop open standards for mobile phones and devices. This includes their latest project design called Android™, which is going to become the first open source complete platform akin to a free operating system. Summing these up, members of this alliance share the vision for changing the mobile experience for customers, and they are pretty damn committed.
This Android project looks very promising for numerous reasons. First, since it is based on the Linux Kernel (which is part of the Linux Operating System), it's going to become open source and free to all mobile phone manufacturers, carriers and services. As a result, potential competitors like Palm, Symbian, Windows Mobile (derived from Windows CE) will be outperformed with ease, at least in terms of price.
An early look at the Android platform's SDK (Software Development Kit) came in November. This was crucial because the main goal of the alliance is to hit the market with Android-based cell phones and other mobile devices starting in the second half of 2008.
All in all, the advantages of Android platform include easier commercialization because the software is free, and developers and manufacturers can optimize their applications more effectively because the API ought to be very comprehensive, web-ready, and easy for developers to use. In two words: innovation ready.
Recently, High Tech Computer (HTC) made public their intention to commercialize cell phones based on the Android platform starting in mid-2008. The reports are quite vague and they are planning to remain mysterious for obvious marketing reasons, but we could still find out some of the phone's specifications thanks to Forbes.
"[...] It is thin, about 3 inches wide and 5 inches long, and features a touch-sensitive, rectangular screen. Unlike the iPhone, the screen is also time-sensitive: Hold down your finger longer, and the area you're controlling expands. The bottom end of the handset, near the navigational controls, is slightly beveled so it nestles in the palm. The screen also swivels to one side, revealing a full keyboard beneath." (Source:here.)
(HTC's "Dream" or "Omni" prototype)
Anyway, the design of HTC's "Dream" / "Omni" prototype certainly looks like what one would expect from the GPhone, whether or not it will actually be one. Google might be involved in the hardware development of a phone too, but right now that really does not matter since this alliance has been working toward a common goal for three years. The bottom line is that we should patiently wait for mid-2008+ and see what happens.
Member companies of this alliance include, at the time of writing: China Mobile Communications Corp., KDDI Corp., NTT DoCoMo Inc., Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile, Telecom Italia, Telefónica, Audience, Broadcom Corp., Intel Corp., Marvell Semiconductor Inc., NVIDIA Corp., Qualcomm Inc., SiRF Technology Holdings Inc., Synaptics Inc., Texas Instruments Incorporated, Ascender Corp., eBay Inc., Esmertec, Google Inc., LivingImage ltd., NMS Communications, Nuance Communications Inc., Packet Video, SkyPop, SONiVOX, HTC Corp., LG Electronics Inc., Motorola Inc., Samsung Electronics, Aplix Corp., Noser Engineering Inc., The Astonishing Tribe, Wind River. (Source: here). [Verizon made a splash in the news recently by joining the alliance. --Ed.]
For in-depth information and a more detailed overview regarding the Android phone and Google's future plans in the mobile phone industry, please check out the article written by Terri Wells at this address.
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