As confirmed by the NYT blog yesterday Google expects up to 18 Android phones to be available on the market by the end of the year. Developers can get their motors running and download Android 1.5 SDK stack and you business types can start marketing. Apparently the open system is going to have 3 working business models and they are already are offering several working applications.
First: The obligation-free option: where manufacturers can download a free version of Android and load it onto their devices and provide access to as few or as many apps as they want. But the manufacturers cannot pre-load popular Google applications, like Gmail or Google calendar. Which seems sort of limiting if you ask me but will keep big brother out.
Second: The small strings option: Basically this is is the same as Option 1, but the manufacturers need to sign a distribution agreement to include on the phone Google applications. Of the 18 to 20 phones coming out this year, 12 to 14 will more than likely subscribe to this option according to Mr. Andy Rubin the director for Mobile Platforms for Google. Remember when your PC always had to come with IE. Same idea.
The Third: The bigger strings option or the no-censorship version: These phones Google calls “The Google Experience.” They are differentiated by having the honor of the “Google” logo on the device and will include a range of Google applications that the carrier and handset maker agree to leave on the phone. They also must not to censor access to the Android open developer market. The risk being that if the shaken baby is suddenly recreated by some dumbass developer it must not be forcible removed. It must remain as part of the applications available for consumers. This is not about taste. 5-6 manufacturers are going to go for this relationship model.
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