In this post I discuss a "minor" staff change at Google and how it relates to the Android OS and why it can be seen as sign of strategic change in Google's approach
This week saw Google reveals its future mobile ambitions by replacing long serving Andy Rubin (head of Google Mobile Android Division since 2004) by Sundar Pinchai, who is currently head of Google Chrome's department and has been responsible for the browsers' meteoric rise in the last 4 years.
In practice this means that Mr. Pinchai will be heading both Google Chrome and Google Apps. Losely translating this means that Chrome will is preparing for the moment that Android (Mobile Devices) and Chrome (PC/Desktop) will become one.
1. What is Google aiming for?
At current Google is not charging any of the companies deploying Andriod in Mobile Devices. Instead Google is earning on the applications that run on Andriod via its Play Store. Google is making money with the Advertising campaigns targeting Andriod. By merging Andriod OS and Chrome OS Google creates a potentially massive new revenue base.
The release of Google's "Chromebook Pixel" laptop, which provides a superb browsing experience and native intergration with Google's Cloud Service, demonstrated its inability too rival both the Windows and MAC Operating Systems. Basically all that you expect from a cheap laptop
As reviews showed: it was not a greatly celebrated success and that is an understatement. But not to fear, Google is here. Turning a bad experience into a usefull one!
3. What makes Android so interesting?