Here is Googles battle plan: We can't do an all-out attack on the carriers since they will fortify their positions and we need the carriers to move data for us

Here is Googles battle plan: We can't do an all-out attack on the carriers since they will fortify their positions and we need the carriers to move data for us. So we will take them by stealth and guerilla warfare, a little bit at a time, forcing them to be dumb bit-movers. Google could move faster than they do right now. I think they already have the infrastructure and applications on Android to make a worldwide Skype alternative which is free. But the carriers would scream if Google does that. Hence, they slowly morph the Android system into their vision over time. A carrier can't complain on each of the small steps -- but take all the steps together and their power is dwindling. "Open" is not a discrete thing. You can be "more open" than another handset or operating system. But "not being open" does not imply being "closed". The positive thing about Android is that we are seeing the most open devices ever. And this signals the slow but sure death of the carrier conglomerates.