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This doesn't make the project any less worthy, but their OSS approach shouldn't veil their corporate gain. On the contrary, that actually makes it more worthy,
by jjs 16y ago
This doesn't make the project any less worthy, but their OSS approach shouldn't veil their corporate gain.
On the contrary, that actually makes it more worthy, since they're providing a clear example of how a publicly-traded company can profit by being a good corporate citizen.
- macrael 16y agoGoogle open sources things when it is beneficial to them to do so, or when it is not very central to their business strategy. Every time an oem takes the android source and makes it run on a new device, they are doing Google a favor, and missing an oppertunity to differentiate themselves from other handset makers. So yes, it is good to show that there is a way to make money giving away open source software, but i'm not at all convinced it is an example other companies out there right now could actually follow. Google is in a position where they can make lots of money off of people's attention without directly taking their money, so they can afford to give away a MASSIVE piece of software to anyone who asks. Who else could do that? Maybe Microsoft. But I can't think of anyone else. The amount of money and man hours Google has spent on Android must be truly staggering, the fact that they can recoup it on advertising dollars alone is really, really impressive.
- jjs 16y agoI'm thinking more along the lines of a general accomplishment. This "doing well by doing good" thing could inspire people who run companies in other industries as well.
- Tichy 16y agoIt's called win-win. The handset makers are not doing Google a favor, they are saving the costs for developing their own OS.
- dublinclontarf 16y agoExactly, do you have any idea how bad phone software is? Have you ever tried to use Nokia's MusicXpress? God what a nightmare. Most phone related software is diabolically horrible. The sheer torture I had to go through to get playlists synced to my phone is unreal. The reason the iPhone (and more recently Android based systems) are doing well is the great software, which has been lacking since phones started doing more than calls & SMS. For the good of humanity this part of phone development must be taken from the phone makers hands. The next greatest thing to come out after sliced bread will be an Android -Lite for use in normal, low end phones, I look forward to this day with bated breath(Google Android developers, if your reading).
- cakesy 16y agoYeah, everybody is going to want to buy an unheard of OS, with 20 apps for it. People know about apps these days, and it is a huge boon.