Google's Android makes no appearance at CES in Las Vegas

Posted Jan 10th 2008 2:38PM by Brian White
Filed under: Products and Services, Competitive Strategy, Google (GOOG), Apple Inc (AAPL)

Google, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG)'s Android was really set up to be displayed at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this week. After such a high-profile and hyped introduction this past fall, it would have been very Apple-esque (as in, releasing products right after announcing them at Macworld) of Google to facilitate some kind of hardware product introduction for this month's CES in Las Vegas. But Google's in the software business, not the hardware business.

What Android product did show up at CES this week, then? Asian electronics manufacturer Wistron NeWeb was the sole supplier of any Android pre-release hardware product. The GW4 model, which reminded some of the ubiquitous BlackBerry handset, was on display this week sporting some common features from today's wireless handset manufacturing universe.

But, alas, there was no Android inside -- just a Linux-based operating system. Heck, why would Wistron even demo a phone that will come with Android onboard when it ships to the U.S. market sometime in the second quarter -- but has not trace of it in January? It's puzzling and makes no sense. Remember, the hardware doesn't mean anything -- it's the software that counts. Well, according to Bill Gates, anyway.

Google's Android won't win over wireless phone consumers without an engaging experience that goes beyond what is available today on a modern cellphone -- not to mention competing with Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL)'s iPhone. Perhaps later in 2008 the picture will become much clearer. Yes, Android was just announced to the world a scant few months ago, but now the expectation to deliver something outstanding is only becoming larger every day.

Tags: aapl, android, Android phone, AndroidPhone, apple, CES, GOOG, Google Android, Google, Inc., Google,Inc., GoogleAndroid, inthenews, iphone