Android mobile phones may be selling for as low as $100
Here’s some fresh and exciting news from the World Mobile Congress 2008, taking place in Barcelona.
According to Rich Miner, Google’s VP of Mobile technology, Google will be offering mobile phones based on the Android platform loaded with its own (or your) applications around the end of 2008. Android-powered handsets manufacturers like LG and HTC. The main selling point will remain to be devices that are independent of mobile operators. In addition, the initial Android devices will not be running ads. Yes, initally. I bet Google is still testing how to best target mobile users while keeping up with their “Don’t be evil” credo. :-) Later on, users will presumably like the ads - context/location sensitive obviously.
Miner (at) Google hints some of the Google’s strategy to break the mobile technology market beachfront and enter this exciting market in a way similar to iPhone, only from a different angle - by piggybacking on hardware produced by others and attracting developers and users alike (in that order) with openness, applications and price. The main selling points of Android will be these three conditions:
- mobile phones at a lower cost - as low as $100 (without subventions and mobile plans)
- open internet access, and
- free application download (anti-virus and security.
Sounds great! What Android needs now is:
- a consistent, sexy and user-friendly user interface (coming from The Astonishing Tribe?) and
- killer applications, leveraging the lessons of successful Web2.0 (lean and mean) apps, social networking (what are my friends up to and where are they) and location-based features
Later down the road, in the Q1 2009, Samsung and Motorola will enrich the Android catalog with devices sporting different peripherals combos - touch screen, GPS, Bluetooth… (what else?) and sporting a price tag way above $100.
OHA, I have $100 set aside. When can I buy an Android device?
Steve Jobs, your turn: show us the iPhone SDK.
