Krishwords

When Google announced Open Handset Alliance and the release of Android SDK under open source license, I was pretty excited. In fact, few people like Robert Scoble even questioned my excitement during a twitter conversation. Some of the arguments put forward by pundits against my excitement towards Google’s strategy were

• Android is boring and the phone features are not enthralling
• The device is not out. It is just a PR blitz
• It is Google’s attempt to get monopoly
• Certain ridiculous assertions like it is a security nightmare
• Certain sensible apprehensions like “Android is not released under GPL but Apache software license and network carriers can still maintain their walled gardens”

To all those who were skeptical about Google’s open wireless strategy, I had argued that it is a welcome move, even if their skepticisms turns out to be true. It was my hope that an open source kinda approach is the only way we can break the monopolies of the giant wireless carriers. The open source approach put a dent on the Microsoft monopoly, even in the not so competitive areas like desktop software. Also, the open source revolution moved the industry from its dark ages to the current Web 2.0+ era, where the market place is opened up so much that new players are emerging every day. It was my hope that if the open philosophy is introduced into the wireless market place, the free markets will then take care of everything else and we will easily move into an open standards based wireless world. Google’s Android effort just did that. It brought in the concept of openness to the marketplace. Now only a more and more open approach can survive the free markets. Today’s announcement by Verizon just proves this philosophy. Now, the competition will drive more and more openness and we will soon have an open standards based wireless marketplace, empowering the consumers.

Some people are more worried about the lost subsidies from the wireless carriers for the handset. This is an unwarranted skepticism. Open source mobile software like Android and mobile linux software will drive down the costs of the handsets. Heavy competition among the handset makers will also drive down the prices. I wouldn’t be surprised if we get a decent handset for $25 (I have seen $35-40 handsets in India when I visited the country few months back). In fact, even a sophisticated handset offering capabilities equivalent to a low end windows mobile phone might just cost around hundred dollars. I wouldn’t subscribe to any FUDs regarding high handset prices. I am pretty convinced that it is just a matter of time before we are bombarded with low cost handsets. Low cost handsets with complete freedom to choose any network and install any applications is the ultimate empowerment of consumers. When it happens, we will turn back and thank Google for the first step taken in this direction.

The best quote I have seen about Google’s mobile initiative comes from Forrester Analyst Charles Golvin through GigaOM

The impact is broad across all players in the mobile environment, driving innovative developers to craft new applications that leverage both the mobile networks and the Internet, and helping to change the way consumers behave when on the go. Google is far from the only beneficiary, as competitors like Yahoo (YHOO) and even Microsoft (MSFT) stand to benefit should they embrace this approach; the impact will build slowly over time as initially the devices using this platform will form a very small percentage of the market.

I would extend the same quote to Google’s Open Social initiative too. We are seeing pundits wondering about the lack of any open social apps or user experience. In order to really feel the impact of open social, we may have to wait for quite a long time. It will slowly build over various social networks and eventually into the user’s psyche.

PS: Please don’t get me wrong on my posts. I am not supportive of any of Google’s business strategies. I am only supporting their efforts to open up both the social networking world and the mobile world. These two strategies are going to be the first step towards achieving a future based on open standards.

Fring has just released a Windows Mobile app. You can download it here. I am installing it. It got my dash, running Windows Mobile 6, hung twice and once the registration process was on forever. I am yet to succeed in my installation. Will update here once I get it done. This was one app I was expecting for a long time. I will post my experience after I get it working.

Update1: I got it working finally. It is really cool. I did a test call with fring test call service. It works flawlessly. I will try Skype/MSN/Gtalk call in the evening and see if they also work without any problems.

Update 2: It sucks big time. If I use the software, quit and then open it again, it hangs big time. Not sure if it is a problem with their software or an issue with Windows Mobile 6 memory management but the experience sucks big time. This is one app I wanted badly. I am hoping that the folks at fring fix this issue soon. I also wish that these wireless companies offer phones like Dash with a version of embedded Linux packed into it. I will be more comfortable with them than Windows Mobile.

Samar Srivastava gives his take on why text messaging didn’t take off in USA

For a long time, mobile companies in America have made handsets cheaper by forcing users to take a one or two year contract. This includes a minimum number of minutes every month, and for messaging consumers pay extra. In the end consumers are left with little incentive to send messages when their calls are essentially free. In most other countries subscribers are on pay as you go plans. In this case, messaging is a lot cheaper than calling and so users have taken to texting in far larger numbers.

True. If I have to pay 10 cents for each text message, I would rather use my free minutes to call or use a cheap 2 cent calling card from a public phone. I really couldn’t understand why carriers are hesitant to make text messaging affordable.

Dan offers some examples applied to Mobile 2.0

• SMS -> IM, mobile blogging
• MMS -> Media sharing
• Operator Portals -> Mobile Web and search
• Operator chooses -> User chooses
• Premium SMS billing -> Mobile stored value Accounts
• Java Games -> Connected Applications (e.g. photo sharing, blogging)
• Presence & Push-To-Talk -> VOIP applications
• WAP sites -> Web sites that adapt for mobile browsers
• WAP push -> RSS readers
• Wallpaper -> Idle screen applications
• Location services -> Google maps application
• Content consumption -> Content creation (e.g. mobile blogging)