On Jul 11, 8:34 pm, "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> that in the rush Google makes a bad deal
> with the carrier that results in an undifferentiated product (with
> little access to network location information).
Exactly my concern, too. Like reading my mind. Before adding to this
however I'd like to say thanks to JBQ for checking in.

Back on top topic though; if carriers create derivate work from
Android to brand their devices, it's still going to be an Android
phone, right? And at least under the current license there's nothing
that Google can do to prevent this from happening. Let's have a look
at the tools that hang up there at the torture chamber wall. What
third-party apps might be denied of; what comes to mind within 10
seconds:
- access to contacts, messaging and phone controls
- location device (GPS) access
- maps through MapView (hope the TeleAtlas deal will prevent that (but
again we're hoping here))
Now why's that? Easy answer - all it takes is Wayfinder to come in,
ink an exclusive deal with carrier, charge the usual $129 and kick
back part of the revenue to the carrier. Independent developer: Out.
Consumers care? Unlikely, in particular here in the US; unless perhaps
there's a change in attitudes given the current economic downturn with
people looking for actual value products when they shell out hundreds
of dollars... unlikely though.

So there's an awful lot of things that can go wrong and it doesn't
even cover the usual annoyances like SIM locks, tethering locks (see
iPhone 3G) etc.

So we won't know *anything* until later this year, it seems? That's
why communications are so important.

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