I really don't think they're going to license. If anything would foster a bad relationship with OEM's, it's asking for a licensing fee. It's much more likely that they'll enter the hardware market more seriously (because remember, they've already dipped their toes in it).
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Google's plans for Motorola: Following Apple's lead
- Thread starter Bboy AJ
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I really don't think they're going to license. If anything would foster a bad relationship with OEM's, it's asking for a licensing fee. It's much more likely that they'll enter the hardware market more seriously (because remember, they've already dipped their toes in it).
Really? What other options do they have? Without Google's blessing of gapps, I don't care how good your os is, you're fucked.
Kung Fu Jedi
Member
I completely understand why Google purchased Moto (both patents and hardware) and I get why they'd like to follow Apple into a VERY profitable direction. Unfortunately they way they've set up Android and partnered with the OEM's, they have walked into a bit of a minefield as to how they can negotiate making their own hardware without pissing off those partners. Heaven forbid there should be even the slightest indication that the a Moto phone would receive preferential treatment of any kind or get Android updates ahead of the other companies. The path seems full of pratfalls.
-COOLIO-
The Everyman
seriously. the bloatware needs to stop.
zomgbbqftw
Banned
I'm sure MS would be more than happy to provide them with the equivalent Live Apps.
i think that help destroying apples market-share, bettering of the brand name, and the likely increased updates to the android platform would help make up for it.
Microsoft isn't the answer. They can't customize the OS, and they face the same favored nation problem with Nokia.
Of course they would, look at how successful wp7 has been, it's a wonder why these oems are still making android phones. The ship has already sailed and it's either Google's Play Store or Apple's App Store. Good luck getting developers to switch from either and good luck getting consumers to leave either for wp7.
Kung Fu Jedi
Member
Or further dividing up the pie with another major Android phone manufacturer (many of which are struggling already), further fragmenting the software, and updates that go to a competitor first, may cause them to jump shop altogether.
It's all in how you spin it.
Once the new version hits AOSP the manufacturers are free to go to town. That they don't isn't google's fault. Hell, the newer version in AOSP now.
You mean like the Nexus phones have had preferential treatment all this time? I think the "Motorola" brand is going the way of the Dodo. This is not going to be the "Nexus 4 - by Motorola". It should have no other brand attached to it other than Google. At least this is what I'm hoping for.
Nothing is really changing on the OEM side, beside the Nexus project.
- Carriers will continue to order phones from OEMs, with customization.
- OEMs will continue to use AOSP code to update their phones to the latest version of Android.
- As long as the OEM phones are running Android they can license the Google Play Store with Google Apps - which would be stupid not to at this point.
What's going to change
- Google will have to fight for carrier marketing space. Carriers already have phones down the pipeline that they will market for themselves. Again Google is not Apple, so they will have to somehow negotiate having their "phone" on all carriers, and it's going to cost them a pretty penny. I think Google already tested these waters with the Galaxy Nexus, but the brand is diluted by Samsung's own Galaxy brand.
What Google should do
- Have a sub Android team working with OEMs, helping them update the code to run on their CPUs and GPUs. This way they can help Google Play authorized phones get latest version of the OS in a timely matter.
There was a post in G+ from an Android engineer who explained that it could take up to 6 months for an update to reach phones due to the process it takes OEMs and Carriers to test them.
Eh, it all rests with the carriers. If Google can convince the carriers to promote these new phones more than HTC or Samsung phones, then maybe they'll have something.
But I don't think carriers will be too happy about promoting Android phones with stock Android where you can't have, say, a V-Cast app or other carrier customizations.
so, if the plea to the carriers fails, then all of this is pretty much meaningless. Android will just keep on keeping on, with OEMs and carriers customizing on top of it for every new device.
But I don't think carriers will be too happy about promoting Android phones with stock Android where you can't have, say, a V-Cast app or other carrier customizations.
so, if the plea to the carriers fails, then all of this is pretty much meaningless. Android will just keep on keeping on, with OEMs and carriers customizing on top of it for every new device.
industrian
will gently cradle you as time slowly ticks away.
voodoojohn
Banned
Fuck differentiation if it means every phone is running the best software, anyway. How is this any different than the PC paradigm? Why shouldn't we want the phone to be commoditized?
Within five years, every Android phone should be running the latest vanilla version of the OS, should support every GSM band out there, and should be dirt cheap ubsubsidized as a result of the fierce competition/price war that this type of commoditization would bring. Then, Apple can be relegated to the kind of marketshare (w/the same insane margins) they currently enjoy in the PC space. iPhone's current marketshare combined with its current margins are simply not viable in a world where every new Android phone runs the latest vanilla software. The gap in quality is not that big, no matter how much of a fanboy you are.
The people have spoken, and the smartphone is not simply a rich person's playtoy. It is a necessary tool, it is the way most of humanity will first access the internet, and every barrier to providing the best quality product at the lowest price needs to be torn down post haste.
Within five years, every Android phone should be running the latest vanilla version of the OS, should support every GSM band out there, and should be dirt cheap ubsubsidized as a result of the fierce competition/price war that this type of commoditization would bring. Then, Apple can be relegated to the kind of marketshare (w/the same insane margins) they currently enjoy in the PC space. iPhone's current marketshare combined with its current margins are simply not viable in a world where every new Android phone runs the latest vanilla software. The gap in quality is not that big, no matter how much of a fanboy you are.
The people have spoken, and the smartphone is not simply a rich person's playtoy. It is a necessary tool, it is the way most of humanity will first access the internet, and every barrier to providing the best quality product at the lowest price needs to be torn down post haste.
Exactly.
ThatObviousUser
ὠαἴÏÏιÏÏÎ¿Ï Ïαá¿Ï εἶ
Galaxy Nexus on Verizon has been pretty successful, and actually, it has two Verizon apps preloaded. (Stock) ICS makes it possible to completely disable any app though, so that isn't too big a deal.
This really isn't a huge deal.
The people who buy phones don't really care whether something is stock android or whether it's Sense/Touchwiz/whatever Sony calls theirs/Whatever LG calls theirs/etc. It's a much bigger deal to the tech world, but those people don't buy the bulk of these phones.
The people who buy phones don't really care whether something is stock android or whether it's Sense/Touchwiz/whatever Sony calls theirs/Whatever LG calls theirs/etc. It's a much bigger deal to the tech world, but those people don't buy the bulk of these phones.
Banana Kid
Member
They don't know the difference, but if a consumer buys a phone and the user experience is bad, it's definitely a big deal.
It's the kind of thing that, once the contract expires, makes someone think "The Android phone I bought last time was bad, I'm going to buy an iPhone this time."
voodoojohn
Banned
Techies buy hardware that run stock software because it is the best. If every phone ran the same (best) software, then one piece of differentiation that is of no benefit to the consumer would be removed and the OEM's would have to compete on issues that actually matter (including price).
brotkasten
Member
But why? Everyone's happy, remember?
We welcome todays news, which demonstrates Googles deep commitment to defending Android, its partners, and the ecosystem, J.K. Shin, president of Samsungs Mobile Communications division said.
I welcome Googles commitment to defending Android and its partners, Sony Ericsson president and CEO Bert Nordberg said.
We welcome the news of todays acquisition, which demonstrates that Google is deeply committed to defending Android, its partners, and the entire ecosystem, HTCs CEO Peter Chou added.
We welcome Googles commitment to defending Android and its partners, LGs president and CEO Jong-Seok Park said.
The potential upside of this, if it works, is that development becomes easier and cheaper as there's less fragmentation of OS versions to worry about if you want to reach a wide audience.
So Google would have more developers putting stronger efforts behind their apps. consumers might see better apps, buy more apps, and become more attached to them. the ecosystem becomes stronger if there's less OEM customization. it's less easy to switch to iOS or WP.
Of course, I am skeptical of this actually happening in real life but I can see why Google would take another stab at this.
"Or maybe I will buy a 'Google' phone next time." - They could say.
Android is a monster Google doesn't have full control of.
This is why they shed the "Android" from the Market, and renamed it Google Play.
Edit:
Coco says:
Al-ibn Kermit
Junior Member
What I have been saying that I think will happen is that every manufacturer will have a new "nexus" phone every year. A phone that at least gives you the option of going without a skin and getting immediate updates through Google to the latest version of android.
These "nexii" being made by each manufacturer could (should) be part of the main line being produced by the manufacturer (ie: all Samsung Galaxy S phones of HTC One phones) . This makes each phone unique enough in hardware an optional skins to keep the manufacturers happy, but it also satisfies those consumers who want immediate updates or vanilla software.
Eventually, we may come to a time where the only way to update your current phone to the latest version of android is by running it without a skin, as manufacturers give up on porting their new skins to last year's phones.
You have to remember that there are still people who love the skins, they find the features and find the differences in the UI convenient and wouldn't want to change it. Those people can stick with that version of android until they decide to upgrade their phones.
It sounds like a win-win-win.
These "nexii" being made by each manufacturer could (should) be part of the main line being produced by the manufacturer (ie: all Samsung Galaxy S phones of HTC One phones) . This makes each phone unique enough in hardware an optional skins to keep the manufacturers happy, but it also satisfies those consumers who want immediate updates or vanilla software.
Eventually, we may come to a time where the only way to update your current phone to the latest version of android is by running it without a skin, as manufacturers give up on porting their new skins to last year's phones.
You have to remember that there are still people who love the skins, they find the features and find the differences in the UI convenient and wouldn't want to change it. Those people can stick with that version of android until they decide to upgrade their phones.
It sounds like a win-win-win.
Is that why?
I mean, Android Market is a misnomer if you consider stuff like selling music isn't really Android specific (you can play it anywhere.)
Anyway, I think the rumour that they're selling them is more likely, I guess.
It doesnt seem anything right now. Despite the way this is being presented, this is another rumor, just like the one seven days ago that all but assured us Google will soon sell Motorolas hardware division to Huawei. I pointed that out in the OT but I guess folks wanted to create this thread anyway. Theres been a new "What will Google do with Moto" rumor every few weeks.
Al-ibn Kermit
Junior Member
If they sold Motorola, what are they actually selling? Google is keeping all the patents and I'm sure Motorola contracts out the manufacturing process to Asian companies like Foxconn.
I mean, I guess there's a lot of talented hardware designers at Motorola, but their jobs would be kind of redundant if a company like Huawei (as was rumored) ends up buying them.
Maybe they have a really,really nice office complex though?
I mean, I guess there's a lot of talented hardware designers at Motorola, but their jobs would be kind of redundant if a company like Huawei (as was rumored) ends up buying them.
Maybe they have a really,really nice office complex though?
You do realize that Jobs did not personally design everything at Apple?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Ive
Although Jobs was very detailed oriented and made the calls, one man doesn't run an entire company.
The Faceless Master
Member
or they'll take the source and run with even more...
Marty Chinn
Member
I always thought the issue was the fragmentation of hardware not the OS that was the problem.
cant it be both?
Marty Chinn
Member
Sure, but I'd have to think the bigger issue is the hardware instead of the software. Otherwise, you can point to every version of iOS and say the iPhone market is fragmented. The issues is compatibility and the varying hardware devices out there is what causes issues much more so than the OS.
Not surprised, they can't even get yellow right!
https://plus.google.com/107117483540235115863/posts/gcSStkKxXTw
Jobs had final say in everything together with Ive. If an icon had a pixel he didn't like they would redesign it. If the iPod the night before the unveiling had a screen which Jobs didn't like they would change it last minute. If the iPhone had plastic instead of glass screen and Jobs didn't feel like it they would change it. Even if Jobs never himself did much of the drafting he always was involved in the process.
I'm guessing because of products like gmail
Google makes plans to move Motorola Mobility to Chicago
Wonder if and when will they get rid of the name "Motorola".
We might have to wait until the Nexus 6 to see if they make their own phone/tablet.
Wonder if and when will they get rid of the name "Motorola".
We might have to wait until the Nexus 6 to see if they make their own phone/tablet.
Al-ibn Kermit
Junior Member
Motorola is a well known brand. It wouldn't make sense to do away with it.
Imperial Hot
Banned
I just really dislike Motorola's design aesthetic. It seems like there biggest design mandate is "What if this was a Terminator?"
Makes sense. Google doesn't really give a shit if Samsung or LG gets butt-hurt at this point, the war's already been won. Now Android is the de-facto non-Apple smartphone OS, Google wants to enter the hardware market in order to push the platform forward in a way that OEMs seem to be either incapable or unwilling to do and wrestle some power back from OEMs and carriers.
Google always said that they intended to keep Motorolarunning as a separate business. I'd have thought if they intended to get serious about the hardware business that they would put up the Motorola engineers in California instead. But analysts... Smh
Seems Google is losing money on Android. This is for 2010 so it might have changed by now.
Android mobile platform resulted in a net loss for the company in every quarter of 2010
Maybe they are seeing all the profit Apple and Samsung are making on hardware and are going to switch business models for Android.
Android mobile platform resulted in a net loss for the company in every quarter of 2010
Maybe they are seeing all the profit Apple and Samsung are making on hardware and are going to switch business models for Android.
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