Google is building Skynet and Android is the Terminator
According to Eric Eldon Android is more than just a phone platform. It’s the weapon on choice in Google’s quest for world domination. The prevailing wisdom is that mobile is the future; that’s no surprise. “Android” has been the codename for google’s mobile phone platform but Eric and John speculate it’s part of a much larger strategy.
Google is one of the founders of consumer-oriented cloud computing. It’s one thing to be the leader in free webmail but quite another to be the sole provider to an untapped market. Currently mobile devices have limited non-phone capability. I use mine for email mostly but occasionally for searching, mapping and web browsing as well. I wish I could do more and my device, Samsung i760, certainly has the potential but the services don’t exist or at least aren’t optimized for mobile devices. In steps Google.
With the Android platform Google controls the full application lifecycle. The platform can be minimal, much like an old WYSE terminal, as long as “the cloud” can supply everything from apps to content. Google has a formidable backend and is growing their cloud at an alarming rate. They’re building SkyNet, a la the Terminator. More than a T-1000, Android is a delivery device to get Google’s cloud “virus” into the hands of millions of fanboys worldwide.
Unlike John, I don’t think this effects UC… yet. Google doesn’t own much, anything really, on the voice side. GTalk’s a joke. Would Google be interested in picking Skype up cheap from eBay? That would certainly give them the foundation of a compelling UC strategy! Why am I the only one talking about this?