Google plays a hand of Ogre with Apple

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'Ogre' is an interesting - if obscure - analogy.: But I would suggest that you'd to better to stick with plain old chess.

In my view, the AT&T/iPhone team have a better position, if only by virtue of their early start in the market. But, as a belated entry, Android is something of a wildcard. Tho originally teamed with lowly TMobile, now they have teamed up with a more powerful player: Verizon Wireless.

This has the potential to turn things around, quickly and decisively. Think of it this way: in mid-game, as you appear to be slowly losing position to a stronger club player, suddenly a grandmaster sits alongside and offers his play-by-play analysis. That's bound to be a game-changer.

Or, for you history buffs, try this more direct analogy.: AT&T/iPhone as stand-in for IBM/Motorola/Apple, with Verizon Wireless/Google as a doppelg?nger for Intel/Microsoft...all circa 1991. Then, as now, Apple's head start and brand-recognition (plus their huge outlays for R&D and marketing) brought them a clear lead. And nearly everyone saw the new 'AIM' alliance as further reinforcing that advantage against all comers.

We all know what happened, next.

But, hey - Steve Jobs is no fool. No doubt, the man has learned some important lessons from his past mistakes and won't repeat them. Right? I'm not so sure about that. Jobs' current game-plan seems to be no more than a revised version of his 'walled garden' approach to customer loyalty - he controls virtually every aspect of the iPhone experience, using iTunes/iTunes market as the tie that binds.

Of course, no analogy is perfect. But, here, the similarities are hard to ignore. I'm not claiming that Apple are condemned to screw up so thoroughly as they did, 20 years ago. And yet Android's emergence has shaken up the mobile phone market in a way that almost no one thought possible, even a few months ago. 2010 looks to be an exciting year for the cellular industry...and consumers will be the likely beneficiaries.; Posted by: Justa Notherguy Posted on: 10/08/09 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use