The GPhone dilemma, it has no GSpot
Is anyone sick of hearing about all of these trumped up so called iPhone killers like the GPhone? I mean we hear new rumors about the GPhone everyday now. We have not seen any official action, all that we hear are rumors and a blurry picture of a neat looking Google app’d phone. So my question for the day is does the so called Google Phone have a place with the other all in one devices?
I honestly think it does, I am only basing this decision on rumors though. If I was to believe the rumor mill then it would lead me to believe that the Google phone would really compete with the iPhone and other large contenders. This device could only be three things though, a business tool or a device aimed at the younger generation like the Sidekick series. But it could very easily be both. Google has the younger generation tuned in, and the business world is always following Google’s every move. The only way I see them releasing this to the business world is if they start making some traction with Google Docs & Spreadsheets and Gmail. In the past when we first heard the rumors of the GPhone I thought Google was the type of company to leave the OS open to the 3rd party vendors, but as days go on I am starting to think that they would not allow it. They are all about control now, and I really think that would hurt this device if that was the case.
But I want to break it down with what will hurt this device if released with out these options.
A. Google does not have an official “Media Player”.
B. Google Docs & Spreadsheet’s are limited, not very big in the business world (So far).
C. Google has no media marketplace anymore.
D. You can POP Gmail but their is no easy push features for Gmail, yet.
If Google does not have of these options and software resolved or fixed then in no way will it be competitive with any market. If it has no true media player or marketplace it won’t compete with the iPhone. If it has no true business application support it will not compete with Windows Mobile device or Palm. If it cannot build up an infrastructure like RIM for push then it won’t compete with the Blackberry devices. If it wants to compete with all of them then it really needs to be strong in all of those categories. Or does it?
Maybe Google will go back to the good old days before they were a publicly traded company, by leaving everything open! It could be revolutionary. Have it not tied to any carrier or any type of network. All that they would release is an OS and a slick piece of hardware. Load it with open office mobile, and an open source media player like Helix. They would supply preferred apps, but leave everything else open to anything. It would change the game, and Apple and Microsoft would be forced to fill that middle road. Where Microsoft messed up with the whole consumer base OS and phones, but they had great success with the business world. Apple has great success with the consumer market with the iPhone and does not have a great business backing due to the limited business software compatibility.
Now the new Palm Centro, Treo 800, Gandolf, Frodo phone or whatever Palm is calling it nowadays is soon to be released as well. Can we compare it to the GPhone on simple rumor base? The answer is simply a loud no! But if we did I would honestly say the GPhone would be more a Palm Centro device, aimed at a youth market with a $99-$150 price point before the carriers get a hold of it.
Honestly none of us even know what the GPhone is, no specs, no official info of any kind, it’s probably not even going to be named the GPhone. So why do we all get excited? Would it run proprietary software not compatible with most business/client side applications (Exchange, Outlook, Domino, Notes) or would they play nice? No one knows.
I do not understand what Google’s advantage would be to have a phone. I don’t even know what type of a company Google is anymore? I personally think they are moving to fast, and I pray and hope they don’t invest a lot of money into this project. I will most likely be shot in the foot again; just like what happened to me over the whole iPhone unlocking debacle (the masses still don’t have their paws on the software though. I’m still right!). I actually hope I am wrong about the Gphone though, it would be interesting to see what Google comes up with, but to me it just seems like they are trying everything to generate more revenue, when they should be concentrating on their meat and potatoes. Granted Google makes some great software, and we all know that the software makes or breaks a device.
So I ask this last question to anyone that will listen. If Google releases this phone is their a real spot in the vast marketplace of smart phones for another contender?
For me my answer is in two parts, if they can fill that middle ground where Microsoft and Apple cant, then my answer is yes. If they go it alone, then my answer is no.
I wish good luck to Google.
September 3rd, 2007 at 3:24 am
[…] friend The Geek takes a moment to analyze the rumored Google Phone or “GPhone” rumors circulating the blogosphere. He does a pretty good job outlining why […]
September 4th, 2007 at 4:36 pm
I think the GPhone sounds kindof like Britney Spears’ comeback… you want it to happen & hope it will be awesome but you know you have to keep standards low if you’re going to be impressed.
September 12th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Maybe Google will go back to the good old days before they were a publicly traded company, by leaving everything open! It could be revolutionary.
In the near term, this is very unlikely and unpractical for Google. First, simply by selecting a cellular radio technology (most certainly GSM and possibly UMTS, not CDMA/EV-DO), they have already limited the possible carriers in the USA to AT&T or T-Mobile. Of course, GSM/UMTS are also the de-facto international standards, and simply by knowing that the Google Phone will be carried abroad by Orange and Vodafone, we know it is GSM based.
Second, they are likely to release it through carriers (SIM-locked) as opposed to unbranded/unlocked, simply because most people do not expect to pay the full price (let’s say $400 for the sake of argument) for the phone. They expect to get it for a substantial discount with a 2-year contract. (As a side point, the iPhone’s sale price is really subsidised as well - Apple get something like 10% of the revenue from the customer’s 2-year contract with AT&T - that’s one important reason that Apple released it SIM-locked).
Third, if the phone is 3G (UMTS/HSDPA) capable, which is likely to be as a selling point vs. the iPhone, it is even more likely that it will be tailored for one specific network in the USA (i.e. AT&T and not T-Mobile, or T-Mobile and not AT&T). That’s because the 3G cellular bands are different between these two providers (AT&T uses WCDMA 850/1900 MHz, T-Mobile is deploying on 1700/2100MHz - neither of which is the same as the 2100MHz frequency used internationally). In other words, if the GPhone is released for the AT&T 3G bands, it will not work on T-Mobile’s, and vice versa. If the GPhone sports 3G, it is likely to come in one US flavor (presumably, for the AT&T network) and one European/Asian flavor.
Longer term, both the 2G/GSM and the 3G/WCDMA networks are dinosaurs. Hence, Google’s bid for the newly opened 700MHz spectrum in the USA. They are likely to deploy a wholly new technology (let’s say WiMax/802.16e for the sake of argument) on this new spectrum - and as such, are likely to make the device more data-centric than any phone that is released today (including the first version of the GPhone). That’s where Sprint is going with their new WiMax network - rumors are that they are launching this as a completely new business, separate from the Sprint Wireless division, with a completely new business model (data/internet oriented, possible phone calls via VoIP, one $59.99/month subscription per person, not per device, etc. etc). For instance, one of the first devices that Sprint will offer for their new WiMax network will be a new version of the Nokia N800 Internet Tablet - - which is not a phone at all!
And sadly, the days when there would be one or two international standard frequencies for a given technology (GSM works over 900 and 1800MHz internationally, and 850/1900 MHz in the USA by both T-Mobile and AT&T) are long gone. Spectrum has become so scarce that we are likely to see a very fragmented WiMax/4G landscape. So, while Sprint may own bands within 2300-2400 and 2500-2600 MHz in the USA, there are no equivalent international standards. Which means that 4G devices (whether WiMax or not) will likely need to be quite a bit more soft-programmable / flexible in turns of adapting to a variety of frequencies, depending on what’s available where they are used. In turn, this means that Google’s possible ownership of the 700Mhz band in the USA does not necessarily translate to a dependency on this particular frequency.
September 16th, 2007 at 10:52 am
I would like to imagine that the Iphone will not be connected to any big networks, but would let you choose which network you want -
I think they should create a phone that works on a Wifi connection and that for every phone sold - 100 Dollars would go towards your own personal contribution to a WIMAX net over your own city one that you are a stake holder in. I think that would be a really decent way to create a new phone, cell comms net.
Of course you would have the option to choose which network to go with - Like search it would be great if it enabled you to see who is offering the best prices on cell calls. But the upside is that you would try to persuade everyone to use the phone because that way you all get free calls and free wifi whereever you go - Utopian some would say - Workable? Well, if anyone can do it Google can>>>>