Symbian, Nokia, Microsoft and Apple downplay Android relevance
By Paul Miller 
posted Nov 5th 2007 6:03PM
posted Nov 5th 2007 6:03PM
Palm's not the only company that isn't afraid to speak out on the Open Handset Alliance. Nokia, Microsoft and Symbian made it most clear today that they don't perceive danger from the new initiative and corresponding Android OS, with Nokia stating it quite bluntly: "We don't see this as a threat." Microsoft was a bit more on the defensive. "It really sounds that they are getting a whole bunch of people together to build a phone and that's something we've been doing for five years," said Scott Horn, from Microsoft's Windows Mobile marketing team. "I don't understand the impact that they are going to have." The Symbian folks stated the obvious: "If Google was not involved the industry would have just yawned and rolled over," said John Forsyth of Symbian. "We take it seriously but we are the ones with real phones, real phone platforms and a wealth of volume built up over years." UIQ was a bit more optimistic about the OHA, saying that "Generally, it's positive for the industry." Apple wasn't as commital either way. "We have a great relationship with Google and this doesn't change anything," said Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris. "They are certainly an important partner for iPhone."
What M$ should have said is:
"It really sounds that they are getting a whole bunch of people together to build a phone and that's something we've been doing terribly for five years. Now, we'll revamp our OS just a little while ignoring the memory leak issue altogether."
And Apple's spokesman should have really said this
"I think Google is making big mistake by creating this open platform. The way to make money is not by creating open platforms or something, but to close things as much as possible. Look at us, we don't even allow people to change batteries! And Java, who uses Java?"
Google is definitely a unique company. I just hope they aren't the trick and pray type. If not, they got my attention any day. Apple's excuse for closing the iPhone is ridiculous when they claim the iPhone runs on full Mac OS X. When it doesn't. Also, Mac OS X allows you to add your own programmed apps without Apple approval. I love when its so easy to see through their lies.
I've just seen the Steve Ballmer (Microsoft CEO) and Nigel Clifford (Symbian CEO) speeches about Android (http://www.weshow.com/us/p/22898/microsofts_ceo_discusses_googles_smartphone) and they really don't seem to be worried about Android, as we can see in their smiley and calm faces.