Comment Re:Competition (Score 1) 366
I don't think what most people saw as the goals for the Nexus one were Google's goals. I know I thought initially they were trying to change the way phones were sold, and push back at the carriers to change the way they do business. I had hoped they would release it at a price point similar to what you can find an iPod touch for instead of the huge markup we see with unlocked cellphones.
But I think it's become clear that wasn't their goal at all. I now think they wanted to push android and their devices forward. Many early android phones were lackluster. It seemed like the OEMs weren't trying in a lot of cases. But I think the threat of google jumping into the phone design game really pushed companies like HTC (even though they built the N1), Motorola and Samsung to improve their designs and make devices that move the platform forward instead of adequate or in some cases sub-standard hardware.
Now there are several phones out there which can go toe-to-toe with the iPhone. Application development is ramping up, and Android is gaining significant marketshare. Android has went from 3.8% of the market share in 11/09 to 13% in 5/10, about the time Google decided that it wasn't going to release the CDMA N1. I'd say that if this was their goal, to push OEMs to improve their hardware and accelerate the adoption of the platform it's been a massive success. Especially since the 13% number comes from before the summer when the Incredible, EVO and DroidX have apparently been very successful.
At the beginning of the year Android was hardly in the game, now they're quickly gaining on Apple for the #2 spot in the smartphone market, and don't be at all surprised if within a year there are more android handsets out there than iPhones and they're looking at unseating RIM.