It’s sad. Google just can’t seem to catch a break. All they did was steal Apple’s iPhone design and give it away to cell phone manufacturers. And now the competition is ganging up on Google. This is such a blatant crybaby attitude than none other than Microsoft apologist Paul Thurrott can see through Google’s alligator tears:
Arguably, by “dumping” Android in the market at no cost, Google—which has unlimited cash and can afford to do such a thing—is behaving in an anticompetitive fashion. In fact, one could argue that Google is using its dominance in search advertising to unfairly gain entry into another market by giving that new product, Android, away for free.
Cry me a river, Google. Even Thurrott nails the crux of Google’s crybaby attitude:
And speaking of harm, isn’t Google’s Android dumping harming competition? After all, the mobile OS makers it is competing against developed and paid for the technologies they use, and it’s reasonable for them to recoup those costs through the sale of their systems. Why is it OK for Google to steal their ideas and then give the resulting product away?
In the end, Google will make one of two choices. Android will be free and Google will subsidize the $15 or so per license to keep it that way. Or, Android will have a price tag, and the mobile phone market will become much flatter.
Kate's Comment Policy: Keep your comment on topic, relevant, worthy, and funny. Or, pick any three. Be pleasant, helpful, and only use your real name. Comments are moderated and will not appear immediately.