During the last quarter of 2008, Google horned its way into the already crowded mobile Smartphone market when T-mobile launched the G1. The G1 is the world’s first (and so far, the only) Smartphone that is powered by Google’s mobile operating system, Android.
Although still dominating that segment of the market, Apple found a worthy competitor to its beloved iPhone, with some Apple iPhone users defecting to the newer Android based G1. More than just bankrolling the platform, Google is also banking on the open source movement to provide more innovations for the Android, which it hopes to translate into more applications, software and overall improvements to the operating system itself.
Apple may not be worried, but it is not sitting on its laurels either. It seems, if rumors are to be believed, that Apple is preparing to fight back. Apple seems to be readying its arsenal by working on its own netbook.
How is that related to Android, a mobile phone operating system? Simple. With the news that Android has been successfully ported onto an Asus eee netbook, more and more netbook manufacturers are signifying that they plan to take up Google’s Android as their next operating system for their newer releases.
The latest rumors have it that Apple has been sourcing for touch screen panels for a new device, possibly a netbook. Could it be that Apple is positioning itself for a netbook fight with Android? If it is true, Android would sure lose out to the touch screen netbook. It may seem self-defeating for a netbook to have touch screen, but in a dynamic and competitive market, a new and novel feature could make or break a new entry’s product line. Touch screen might prove to be Apple’s launch pad into the netbook wars.
Other experts think that Apple is coming out with a larger version of its iPod Touch, which is also possible.
Mind you, an Apple netbook has been standard rumor mill fare for a long time. With netbook sales expected to double this year, and with the entry of new players like Google, it might prove to be an exciting battlefield for Apple, as well as other manufacturers.
So, will Apple compete with Google in the netbook arena? That remains to be seen. Meanwhile, more and more people (like me) are wondering whether a switch to an Android phone will be worth it.
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