I was somewhat appreciative of Google’s Mobile moves. It was a good first step towards an open standards based world. The euphoria surrounding this announcement of Google shouldn’t blind us from the danger signs ahead. Even though this is a first step away from the proprietary mobile world, this may not lead to a completely open world as we expect. Even though Google is releasing its Android as an open source, we should also note that it is released under the Apache software License, which allows commercial companies to build proprietary systems out of it. We can still have a walled garden with Android into the headsets. It is quite possible that we may end up with a mobile world similar to what we have now. This move by Google could end up just helping only themselves and not the users, to push Google apps to the consumer handsets. We need to be aware of this warning sign ahead and work hard to push open standards in the mobile world. A good option will be to push the mobile Linux initiatives as a more open alternative to Google’s Android. Mobile Linux will offer a much more open platform with better handle to application developers. It will also ensure that the walled garden imposed by wireless carriers are kept away forever. Google’s Android platform cannot stop wireless providers from having their own walled garden. I am sure Google has taken Apache Software License over GPLv2 to convince the wireless players (and hence handset manufacturers) to join their alliance. In spite of the possible danger about the persistence of walled garden, Google’s action has started a momentum towards a more open mobile world. Now we can expect the forces of free market to push the other players towards more and more open standards. Thatz why I like this move by Google, in spite of the fact that there is a potential danger about the persistence of walled garden and the benefit of this move going only to Google.
Tags: Android, Google, Mobile Linux, Wireless
