Google's Android platform
I’ve got to admit that I’m really more of a
computer/software/hardware geek than what I’d typically call a
phone phreak. I don’t have quite the knack for scanning and all
that jazz that some more well known phreaks do.
That’s why
Google’s
Android platform is particularly interesting to me. I haven’t
looked at the nitty-gritty details yet but you can now watch some
videos about the software and hardware platform as well as
download the
SDK, Essentially Google is promising to deliver an open
platform for cell phones that will have great support in the US
since it’ll be both GSM and EVDO friendly. In other words
developers will have the power to finally deliver applications
without depending on the carriers to market, sell, and take a cut
of the money that is rightfully theirs.
If the fact that finally some company is delivering an open
platform for cell phone development that will run on EVDO networks
then maybe the possibility of
winning a portion of the
$10M in prize money from Google will push you over the
limit.
Before I get a slew of e-mail I am painfully aware of the Symbian
platform. Overseas it may be nice but in the US here if a phone
doesn’t run on Sprint or Verizon it’s hard for me to consider. The
GSM coverage in the US is abysmal in most places at best. With
Google partnering with at least Sprint on this venture I’m hopeful
that I’ll finally be able to get an open phone that runs on a
reliable network. Maybe I’ll even be lucky enough to get something
that supports EVDO Rev. A. Ok, that’s probably asking too
much...