Kakala o Tonga.com

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If Google doesn’t control the web already!!…now they have just told the world that they will begin their foray into the mobile phone market with their new open-source Android Operating System. As announced by Google’s Dr Eric Schmidt (CEO of Google), Google have formed partnerships to help them spread their linux-based operating system throughout the mobile universe. Interestingly, Nokia and Microsoft are not partners because they see Google as a threat to their shares in the mobile market. Keep in mind, there are two aspects to this business - the handset and the operating system. It is similar to your PC at home. You can choose either a Hewlett Packard, IBM or Dell computer for a laptop or personal computer and well…..Microsoft Windows (already installed on your computer) as your operating system of choice…well, hmmm, there are very few choices on the market that your every day Sione Fifita knows about. But there are. You can choose an Apple operating system by purchasing an Apple computer which is based on UNIX called Leopard or other UNIX based systems of which there are a few. You may have heard of LINUX and seen that penguin character everywhere now. That’s another alternative for you.

How may this decision for Google to penetrate the mobile market affect us in Tonga and overseas? For one, the system is open-source which means that the ‘recipe’ of how programmes are built are freely made available for anyone to develop software for it. You’ll be able to watch your favourite YouTube videos. But you may also be able to shoot them, edit them, and upload them to your YouTube account from your phone. With Google Maps, you’ll never get lost again. You can seek directions and your directions will be on your phone. You could simply tell your phone where you want to go and it will speak the directions to you. Need to get in touch with a friend? Touch their name in your contact list, and depending on where they are and what they’re doing, your phone will connect with them using the most appropriate means available like voice, txt, email or Bebo post. You could possibly even use Google to pay for your shopping via txt with their Gbuy/Google wallet/Google checkout services which are alternatives to Paypal.

Where I believe Google can make the largest impression in Tonga is through wireless internet connectivity. There is opportunity for a telecommunications company(s) in Tonga (like UCall/Tonfon or someone else) to take advantage of the technology companies Google is partnering with. If these companies were to upgrade their systems (if the costs were feasible) to WIFI MAX, everyone in Tonga could effectively have fast internet access through a laptop, PC and even a mobile phone, in this case a Google phone. With fast internet access, efficiencies are experienced through the demolition of a lot of barriers for communication, application and utility in our country. Fast internet access via wi-fi allows for the possibility of FREE internet phone calls via Skype or an IM like Hotmail, Yahoo or AOL. Fast internet access also enables anyone and everyone to access Gmail, Google Docs and Google Calendar which are competitors to Microsofts Office Suite as well as Google Maps, Picasa and YouTube.

Currently as it stands, Nokia rules the mobile market. Apple has entered the market with their popular iPhone and Google is playing catchup. Microsoft rules the desktop environment with their Windows Operating system and Apple’s Leopard and Linux clones are tiny by comparison. Yahoo! did rule the internet search market until Google slowly crushed them and now they are behind the eight ball in the mobile market. Yes Google has entered the market at this late stage but……..they also were many years behind Yahoo! as well. Who knows what Google can do with their huge cash warchest? I wouldn’t bet the house that they wouldn’t succeed. However, I would bet that they can make a difference in Tonga.

Filed under: Business