The “concern” of open-source mobile operating system Android is not far from Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer’s mind. Ramping up investments into a client operating system, Ballmer says the line between a phone and PC operating system is changing.
Windows Mobile currently ranks third, just in front of Apple iPhone with Ballmer seeing Google Android as a “blip on the radar”. Having said this, the concern for Microsoft is that the real market momentum with operators and device manufacturers is swinging toward Android, even if “consumer market mojo is with Apple and to a lesser extent BlackBerry.” Competition is moving across two fronts: Firstly selling software independently from hardware and secondly, selling a combination of software, hardware and services bundled together.
Ballmer said on Tuesday during a midyear update that “the dynamics with Linux is changing somewhat. I assume we’ll see Android-based, Linux-based laptops, in addition to phones, and we’ll see Google more and more as a competitor in the desktop operating system business than we ever have before.” Microsoft is not discounting any player in the field at the moment, you always need to keep an eye on the little guy…
[via CNET]
Seriously, my hope is that more device manufactures release Android devices and it can become a serious competitor. I'd love to see a big three (Apple, Google, and Microsoft). Blackberry jumping to Android themselves would be great but I'll settle for a big four (Apple, Blackberry, Google, and Microsoft).
Anyone have any predictions?
Second prediction. Android powered PCs and laptops. When this OS makes the leap, it will happen similar to mobile devices. It won't be limited to one device though. The only issue will be software compatibility, which will fall like Goliath with the amazing marketing strategies Google has. They'll line up several big name software companies and products behind them before they launch Android on computers (ie OHA). It'll happen, it's just a mater of time.
You betcha!
Seriously, my hope is that more device manufactures release Android devices and it can become a serious competitor. I'd love to see a big three (Apple, Google, and Microsoft). Blackberry jumping to Android themselves would be great but I'll settle for a big four (Apple, Blackberry, Google, and Microsoft).
Anyone have any predictions?
Obviously with all of the hardware planned for Android and all of the devices with this firmware hacked onto it just for fun - it's well more than a blip. I meet people al the time now who are going to buy a G1 - We are just leaving the early adopter phase for the phone and the OS is only going to get stronger and more dynamic to the needs of the mobile world..
Anything Ballmer can say to give bump to winMo 6.5 and the recent hinting at winMo 7 in 2010, will be said.
i read awhile back that there are several large call centers that recently switched all their computers over to Linux to get away from the Microsoft licensing fee.
Im not sure if its the same for WinMo...but I would assume that the manufacturer probably pays a small licensing fee to sell phone with their OS...especially with our sorry economy right now. If you were a manufacturer, which would you take...especially now that Android is starting to mature and will most likely have full MS client access and everything else that WinMo/Apple offer for corporate use.
If you want Android on your PeeCee, I suggest you either install the emulator that comes with the SDK or simply install Linux and X11.
If you want Android on your PeeCee, I suggest you either install the emulator that comes with the SDK or simply install Linux and X11.
http://venturebeat.com/2009/01/01/an...ikely-by-2010/