Comments on: Google Android prototypes debut at MWC

ARM is one of several companies showing off a mobile phone prototype running Google's Android software.

[ArtInvent]

Why can't I put apps I want on MY phone?

Android, or some other open phone OS like LiMo or OpenMoko, if I'm reading the intent correctly, will allow us to do stuff that we ought to be able to do with a cell phone, but, idiotically, we can't. Any phone these days that's capable of running a browser these days is basically a small computer. Yet it can do almost nothing that we expect a computer to do. I have a brand new Verizon LG Chocolate that's been completely crippled by the phone company. It's got wireless obviously and bluetooth, but I can't even load my phonebook contacts from my old LG phone to the new one! Stupidest thing I can imagine. If it can't even do something that obvious, there's obviously no way to load new programs of any kind on the device. I can't transfer files from my computer the cell phone without some bizarre power/usb cable. I have to use the tiny little microSD card and swap it around, and even that is limited pretty much to photos and maybe music (if you can figure out how to rename all your music tracks just so the phone can recognize them.) Horrible.

Apple's experience with the iPhone also indicates the huge appetite there is out there for some kind of capable computer phone that users can do with what they want. Apple's whack-a-mole efforts to contain these customization and unlocking efforts is practically comical and probably futile.

Cell companies seem to know that selling people data and internet services on mobile devices is the way they are going to make money. Yet they are hopelessly crippling the very devices that we are supposed to use to access these services. If they would open up these devices, customers would customize them and make them do exactly what they need. Data access would take off.

I'm hoping that Android shows the industry that an alternate way exists that empowers the users (and incidentally would be incredibly profitable for the providers.)

[7aji88]

Verizon's software really sucks...

I agree with that, that's why I'm with AT&T, still they have some restrictions in the way you can customize it and Windows Mobile isn't that great either, so I hope this Android system will kick some ***** and show these companies some competition :)

[l3it3r]

Get a WM phone

WM phones let you do what you need and what you want. There is so much software available it's mind boggling! I've got the HTC Hermes (AKA ATT 8525) with Window Mobile 6 Pro, WM Office, a full web browser in the form of Opera, a WiFi ROUTER application, Windows Terminal services (control your PC from your phone), full VPN capabilities, Outlook, etc... Windows Mobile is what you're looking for. Ditch the CRAP Verizon tries to sell you and get a real phone.

[t8]

An open platform

So long as Android is an Internet device and not a restricted network that allows Internet access for a steep price then it should be better than the crappy options we have now.

Even better would be the ability to run Skype.

[DonKelly]

bare

"But he said ultimately the market will decide how many operating systems it can bare."

Woo-Hoo! Naked operating systems!

[BILLinBCN]

Apple is going to blow their big chance...

Apple's current course will relegate iPhone to the same fate as the Mac OS. The excellent iPhone experience will be available only on the Apple hardware, which only Apple?s core fans will have.

Mobile phones (unlike PCs or MP3 players) are highly personal devices -- many people see them as a fashion accessory, or a projection of their personality and social status. The idea that a single product (or even a suite of conceptually similar products) will have ubiquitous appeal is silly.

Read the excellent analysis at http://www.broodingsavage.com

[ricklev]

bare versus bear

Ooops, I think the author meant to say: "...But he said ultimately the market will decide how many operating systems it can bear..." Instead, he used bare. Bear means 'allow', while bare means 'expose'.