Android is dead

Google Android OS is growing like a wildfire. The latest growth rate in activations was around 8% per week. Now I have gone mad and say it is dead.

Google has many troubles in different parts of the world. Google has been ousted from China. It is under criminal investigation in Germany. It is all the time pushing limits everywhere, and that is good. We need understanding and discussion on these topics.

Operators

But what about mobile? Android is a mobile OS and it has "nothing to do" with Google Street View cars and Google search. Well, Google is trying to bypass mobile operators, the powerhouses of the mobile economy. And it means troubles. By introducing Google voice, it is going to an unmapped territory operators in the US. Operators for sure do not like it. It is trying to make operators a bit pipe between the handset and Google servers. And US operators are very powerful, too powerful to innovate.

Handset makers

Another bitpipe here are handset makers. Everything that the handset does happens between Google and Google. Nothing between HTC, Samsung, SonyEricsson or anybody else. Well, there are radios, cell towers, backhaul etc, but this does not provide additional value. Everything is just pushing the boxes outside Google. Do you think the world's second largest handset brand, Samsung, wants this? No, it will try to make the additional value itself. Therefore Smasung will turn away from Android leaving already troubled handset makers to compete the Android market. Google does not leave space for differentiation between handset makers. Motorola has already committed to Android till death. The end will be ugly.

Now when you look at the handset market, two dominant players Samsung and Nokia are not supporting  Android in the near future. What is left? Loss-making small manufacturers?

Final words

Of course Google will adapt to market requirements and keep its OS alive. But how? We are living interesting times next 1-2 years.