September 25, 2008
Google’s new cell phone, a potential competitor to the iPhone, has the tech world all abuzz. While most seem to think the Android doesn’t stand a chance at outshining its Apple made counterpart, one thing that may negatively impact iPhone sales is the Android’s relative openness.
Writes David Pogue: “Android, and the G1, are open. Open, open, open, in ways that would make Steve Jobs cringe. You can unlock this phone after 90 days—that is, use any SIM card from any carrier in it. The operating system is free and open-source, meaning that any company can make changes without consulting or paying Google. The App store is completely open, too; T-Mobile and Google say they won’t censor programs that they don’t approve of, as Apple does with the iPhone store. Yes, even if someone writes a Skype-like program that lets people avoid using up T-Mobile cellular voice minutes.
Android is not as beautiful or engaging as the iPhone’s software, but it’s infinitely superior to Windows Mobile—and it’s open. The G1 is only the first phone to use it, the first of many; it’s going to be an exciting ride.”
Comments | 9 Total
September 25, 2008 at 9:48am by Rachel King
Apple is going to be forced one way or another to unlock it eventually. But Google is just the name brand to push Apple to the breaking point. People love Google, and the design of the phone isn't bad. It almost looks like an iPhone...with a simpler keyboard. That will detract many from the iPhone. While I have been loyal to AT&T since the first day I got a cell phone in 2001, contracts have just gotten ridiculously expensive, especially with the iPhone 3G. It's time someone gave Apple a wake-up call that they're not always the best and can expect us all to follow.
September 25, 2008 at 10:43am by Douglas Paul
When you are the frontrunner, such a move would be pathetic and reactionary. What Apple should ( and I believe will ) do is wait, see how all that pans out and then apply the best practices to their system. I'm not convinced that all this openness will not just result in alot of junk, viruses and/or malware that will just turn off most people.
Clearly down the road the iPhone will become more open but I don't think the G1 model of openness will be what Apple goes for.
September 25, 2008 at 11:12am by Chun Fong
in 6 months the gPhone will be in trouble.
If "openess" was the holy grail of phones why aren't Linux phones dominating? Instead linux share is falling.
As one writer put it:
"The Android Market will also deliver lots of problems Apple isn’t, including a way to distribute malware that can’t be remotely killed, or untraceable spyware that professes to be on the up-and-up when you install it, but then works behind your back and phones home sensitive data to a rogue developer’s servers. Remember all the speculation last year about the possibility of developers being able to hack the iPhone open and install their own malicious tools to watch what you’re doing? Under the iPhone SDK, access to that dangerous path is simply forbidden. Under Android, there’s not so much as a handrail for users."
And a developer who made 250K writing a game for the iphone stated why he wouldn't write for Android:
"The developer criticizes Google's Android platform specifically, on the basis that its availability for many different phones could cause too many development problems. "Do I want to be spending six months to write the game, and another six months making it compatible? If I had Trism available for Android," says Demeter, "and there are 50 Android devices and every time one of them crashes [the users] contact me, do I want that?”
September 25, 2008 at 11:46am by Michael Krakovskiy
Maybe not unlock, but certainly to treat app developers better.
September 25, 2008 at 12:37pm by Chheang Yang
I do hope apple is forced to open up its grip on the OS of the phone. I can't wait to see a fully operational phone, like the iphone without its proprietary crap. Oh wait, anyone who really wants to can just load hacked software and open the phone.
September 25, 2008 at 3:33pm by Brian Flores
I'm not buying it. Whoever suggested this "Big Idea" slid down this slippery slope and hit his or her head along the way. Apple has almost never been about "openness", except for its short, failed effort at licensing its OS to third party computer manufacturers. Despite the fact that Macs are now made with the same processors as their Windows counterparts, you can't just install Mac OS on any Intel platform. Philosophical arguments aside, it doesn't make any technical sense to unlock an iPhone for use on T-Mobile's network, any more than it does to unlock a G1 for use with AT&T. AT&T and T-Mobile use different frequencies for their UMTS (3G) network, so the 3G iPhone and G1 will be limited to AT&T's & T-Mobile's sad 2G network. Much like the T-Mobile exclusive Sidekicks, the iPhone requires specialized backend servers to be fully functional. T-Mobile doesn't have those backend servers, so visual voicemail goes out the window once you unlock an iPhone. And neither phone will work on Verizon, Alltel, or Sprint, as their technologies are wholly incompatible with GSM/UMTS telephones.
September 25, 2008 at 9:55pm by david wayne osedach
Let us certainly hope so!
Competing with Google will force them to un-lock it and finally give them some real competition.
September 26, 2008 at 2:51am by Kontra Kontra
Are you even aware that the Android G1 phone is SIM-LOCKED to T-Mobile?
You know the network with measly 22 locations in the U.S. with 3G coverage. The same one that's flip-flopping on its 1GB cap on data. The very one that won't explicitly allow you to tether the G1 to your PC. And you're complaining about the iPhone being locked?
I compiled a list of all software, hardware and service flaws of G1 and asked the question, "Would Apple have been utterly crucified and AAPL have tanked if the iPhone came out with so many shortcomings?" in:
The Big List: 30 critical issues with Google G1 phone
http://counternotions.com/2008/09/24/g1/
September 27, 2008 at 10:47pm by Masho Bosatsu
Why wait 6 months?
Apple selling unlocked iPhone 3G in Hong Kong - International Herald Tribune
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/09/27/business/AS-Hong-Kong-iPhone.p...