Thread: Perfect time to release Maemo 5.
View Single Post
Laughing Man is offline Laughing Man
2009-07-28 , 19:16
Posts: 4,556 | Thanked: 1,624 times | Joined on Dec 2007
#15
Originally Posted by nilchak View Post
The banning of GV is more to do with AT&T phobia than with Apple I believe in this case. This is because It allows users to send free SMS messages and get cheap long-distance over Google Voice. It also makes it trivial to switch to a new phone service, because everyone calls the Google Voice number anyway and hence you don't have to depend upon number portability and all such.

The same could happen with Nokia phone if release with AT&T. Of course there is the plus side that you could always but the phone unlocked and do anything with it. That's an advantage of Nokia.

But seriously nobody even in my friends circle (tech friends) even know what GV does or are impressed with it. They always say - "but why do I need GV on my phone, I can already make calls from my cell."

And open or closed has never been a factor in who sells a product the most in most consumer markets.
I agree with you largely though..

1) "but why do I need GV on my phone"

Err.. free unlimited voice and SMS. (well granted it may not be unlimited as I doubt any of us has tested Google's limits but it's sure higher than what unlimited plans a telco will give you probably). If they still aren't convinced, spam them till their SMS message limit is exceeded =P. Granted it's not needed, but it's nice to have a free alternative since I barely use minutes and SMS messages as is (so I don't see a point in paying for alot of minutes or SMS messages). Right now I just use GV for most of my calls, and my cell for when I'm out and about. Since I'm on a family plan it leaves more minutes for my sister and mother.

2) It depends on what you mean by open and closed. Operating system wise (Windows and Linux)? True, it doesn't matter so much. Open and closed e.g. Windows and Apple back in the early days? If we remember from history, Apple insisted on keeping their operating system tied to their hardware, and Windows eventually outgrew and now dominates the operating system market. I can see something similar happening to the smartphone market. Apple may have the temporary advantage now (coming from the iPod to iPod Touch/iPhone transfer) but they're in a new growing market now. It's not just media, it's games, it's tools, it's everything. And eventually as operating system that aren't tied to just one hardware unit (e.g. Android, Windows Mobile, etc..) continue to improve and grow we might see a repeat of the PC revolution. Where Apple had the head start first, but eventually gave way to a more "open" (as in not just one hardware unit provided by one company) alternatives that were cheaper and more plentiful.

I'm personally waiting for Android to mature, it already appeals to me, it's just minor issues like not being able to install applications to SD cards (sounds familar huh?) and how HTC is doing a better job of improving Android than Google is. And of course, price. Right now no matter what you choose, iPhone, Pre, Android the end cost of it is still in the upper $2000 after the two year contract. I rather get a smartphone with a minimal minutes/SMS plan and heavy on data.
__________________
Originally Posted by ysss View Post
They're maemo and MeeGo...

"Meamo!" sounds like what Zorro would say to catherine zeta jones... after she slaps him for looking at her dirtily...