Understanding why Google had to launch the Nexus One

Originally, I thought how unbelievably destructive a move it was for Google to be making in launching a phone of their own – especially when other handset manufacturers like Samsung (and more notably Motorola) were embracing the Android platform.  Wouldn’t cutting out the handset manufacturer and “going direct” be a pretty mean move on Google’s part?

The recent release of the “pinch-and-zoom” functionality to be released as an OTA update serves as a clue as to why it really does make sense for Google to launch a phone.

Google is really banking on public perception of Android for it to be successful.  With the heterogeneous mixture of Android versions out in the wild, this perception is bound to vary.  What Android is depends on what version you’ve seen and on which handset.  Why are there so many versions to begin with and why couldn’t the handset manufacturers just post OTA Updates when Google releases new versions?  Apart from the maintenance and development of fairly sophisticated skins that sit on top like Blur for Motorola and SenseUI for HTC, it really comes down to varying philosophical/political standpoints by each of the carriers (and perhaps just general slowness on part of the handset manufacturers). 

Motorola might generally be fearful of Apple laying down the law with pinch-and-zoom patents and therefore sit tight on this feature – in fact, this is probably why it doesn’t exist on the Droid while is available as a built-in feature of the Droid Eris manufactured by HTC.   Interesting to note is that this device runs Android 1.5 (a relatively ancient version of the OS) but features pinch-zoom functionality across the Browser and Gallery apps.  This is probably due to a lax stance by HTC on pinch-zoom; read: they don’t really give two shits about Apple’s possible litigation.

These varying stances are exactly why Google feels it necessary to jump into the handset action to lay down a vision for what they think ought to be the optimal version of Android out their in the wild getting OTA Updates in timely matters without think red tape getting in their way.