 Wireless in the EnterpriseThis newsletter is sponsored by Secure ComputingNetwork World's Wireless in the Enterprise Newsletter, 11/12/07Shake ‘em up, GoogleBy Joanie WexlerGoogle is managing to turn the traditional cellular environment that we know — but may or may not love — on its head. By now you likely know that last week, Google unveiled Android, a Linux-based mobile operating platform with the potential to become a universal development environment for wireless devices and PCs alike. It has the backing of the 34-company-strong Open Handset Alliance (OHA), also announced last week, which boasts such industry heavyweights as HTC, Motorola, Sprint-Nextel and T-Mobile. OHA members have all said they will work together to build Android applications, and HTC is currently slated to deliver a commercial Android handset in the second half of 2008.
The Android and OHA announcements follow Google’s fairly successful attempts last summer to convince the FCC to include some open-access provisions in the forthcoming 700MHz spectrum auction rules. Google also has indicated that it will bid on at least some of that spectrum. Depending on the outcome, Google could well upset the mobile WAN applecart in unpredictable ways. “Most exciting is the prospect of new business models,” said Quentin Hardy, Silicon Valley bureau chief at Forbes.com. Hardy was a panelist at a meeting last week of the Wireless Communications Alliance, a nonprofit group that meets to exchange education and ideas about Silicon Valley’s role in the wireless industry. “The incumbents are slaves to their historical business models,” Hardy said. “[New models might emerge to] get as many applications as possible out there.” Co-panelist Mike Thelander, CEO of wireless research and consulting firm Signals Research Group, mused that those applications could range from the traditional to the unthought-of. “Google technology partners could detach the applications from phones and put them in other devices. You could have voice communications in microwave ovens or in Gameboys,” he said. “Or in dog collars,” chimed in wireless guru and co-panelist Andy Seybold, principal of consultancy Andrew Seybold Inc. Seybold worries about how mobile networks, which use finite and shared bandwidth, will be managed in an “open” environment—a term yet to be strictly defined. However, he acknowledges that “Even if [Google] were to walk away today, we’re going to have a better wireless world because Google got involved.” Editor's note: Starting Nov. 19 week, you will notice a number of enhancements to Network World newsletters that will provide you with more resources and more news links relevant to the newsletter's subject. Beginning Monday, Nov. 12, the Wireless in the Enterprise Newsletter, written by Joanie Wexler, will be merged with the Wireless News Alert and will be named the Wireless Alert. You'll get Joanie's analysis of the wireless market, which you will be able to read in full at NetworkWorld.com, plus links to the day's wireless news and other relevant resources. This Alert will be mailed on Mondays and Wednesdays. We hope you will enjoy the enhancements and we thank you for reading Network World newsletters.
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| Contact the author: Joanie Wexler is an independent networking technology writer/editor in California's Silicon Valley who has spent most of her career analyzing trends and news in the computer networking industry. She welcomes your comments on the articles published in this newsletter, as well as your ideas for future article topics. Reach her at joanie@jwexler.com. This newsletter is sponsored by Secure ComputingARCHIVEArchive of the Wireless in the Enterprise Newsletter. BONUS FEATURE90% of IT Managers are leaving their company at risk for a DNS ATTACK. Get the tools and resources you need to keep your DNS healthy and secure. Run a DNSreport on your domain today - 56 critical tests run in 8 seconds. Visit www.dnsreport.com to learn more. (apply coupon NWW2007NLA for a 25% membership discount) PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE International subscribers, click here. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICESTo subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World newsletter, change your e-mail address or contact us, click here. This message was sent to: networking.world@gmail.com. Please use this address when modifying your subscription. Advertising information: Write to Associate Publisher Online Susan Cardoza Network World, Inc., 118 Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA 01772 Copyright Network World, Inc., 2007 |
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