How Nexus One Will Change The Apple, Linux Game
Google has coined a new term for its 'own' phones - Superphone. Google has been around with it Android through partners. But, nothing seems to be coming close to outdoing Apple's iPhone. Most companies have been attempting to offer something 'similar' to the iPhone. It is surprising that many companies are trying to imitate the iPhone. Why don't they innovate something new and improved?
The iPhone is not just a decent piece of hardware. One of the reasons for the popularity of the iPhone is its rich Apps Store. There are so many applications available for the iPhone which convert it into a swiss knife. Apple also maintains the quality of the iPhone experience by maintaining stringent control on the Apps Store. [Update: France Telecom executive has reportedly confirmed the existence of Apple's tablet, read this: iSlate Has A French Connection]
Ironically, the life line of such a powerful device is the network. Gallons of ink has been wasted in criticizing AT&T's networks. Apple is reportedly doing nothing to improve 'that' experience for users.
Carriers are using 'exclusive' iPhone deals to get more customers. Customers have no choice but to put up with average services, if they want to own the iPhone. Carriers have no competitive pressure to improve their services. While the iPhone users were complaining about the 'slow' AT&T networks, Apple's shares were soaring. Despite the criticism, AT&T kept signing more exclusive deals with other smartphone players.
What these two companies are supposedly doing is using their 'dominance' and popularity to sell more devices instead of improving their services. Apple supposedly invests more brains in 'holding' some features for the next generation of the device so as to keep the current buyers craving for buying the next device and dump the current one.
If Apple is so concerned about the user's experience, why is the company not selling unlocked phones so that people can use competing networks? This raises questions on what Apple wants; user's satisfaction through service, or users' satisfaction due to no choice?
But Google may change the game. They are aware of the power of 'Apps'. The search engine giant is much more powerful than Apple; it has a wider reach. With the Nexus One, Google is entering a new segment, e-retailing. Google will control the user experience in the same manner as Apple. However, in this case you can expect more democracy. Google is also working with the developers to write applications for Android. They already have a 'treasure-trove' of applications people would want to use.
Google may bring some relief to users by offering unlocked phones. This will put carriers in a competing situation – customers will be won on the basis of the quality of service and not exclusive deals.
Nexus One also puts Google in direct competition with partners like Motorola who have 'migrated' to the Android OS. This may not be bad, at all. Android is a Linux-based, Free and Open Source operating system. The development of the OS will be accessible to all. Since all the device run the same OS, the ecosystem of the apps will be stronger and richer. Whatever software Google develops for the Nexus One will be accessible to Motorola and partners. The problem will arise if Google develops some features 'only' for the Nexus Hardware.
Through Nexus One, and the upcoming Chrome OS, Google is becoming omnipresent. This leads to some fears. But, there are less chances that they would become an anti-competitive company like Microsoft. One of the reasons is the software development model that Google follows -- Free and Open Source. There will always be transparency and access to the technologies. Of course Google is not a 100% open source company and some of its core products are proprietary.
Google has brought Linux to the end-users. There is a myth among some 'tech-experts' that GNU/Linux is not for the end users -- it was never designed for it. This is incorrect. On one hand there are companies like Red Hat and Novell which do focus on the enterprise segment with their GNU Linux products. On the other hand there are are companies like Canonical and Mandriva which are working in the desktop segment. GNU/Linux is as much desktop ready as is Apple/Mac or Microcoft/Windows. It is all about perception.
One of the biggest enemies of the GNU/Linux popularity is GNU/Linux fan boys. You put something in favor of Ubuntu, Mandriva users will come claiming Mandriva is better and Ubuntu is not that good. This discourages new users. Canonical started a 'decent' forum where users can go and ask without getting humiliated or flamed by other fan boys. You have to understand that companies like Dell can't support 1000 operating systems. This is where the 'Linux' community has to think. They must work with companies like Dell and appreciate their GNU/Linux offerings.
There is hope that Google will end this. They will market the Android without any fan-boyish interference and GNU/Linux will dominate the smart phone market. Of course, democratically.