Is Android Missing the Point?

Recently, I read an interview with the developer of Angry Birds.  You know, the biggest iPhone app ever.  With more than 1 million downloads in a single day, these guys are raking it in like there's no tomorrow, but that's not the point.

They recently released a version for Andriod.  Not to make more money in app sales, mind you, but I think it's just something that software geeks (like me) do when they have the opportunity.  His comments about the Android market really opened my eyes and caused me to seriously rethink my opinion about how this smartphone war will play out.

In short, it should be no surprise that Apple and Google are at war.  No different than the OS war on the desktop that was ultimately won by Microsoft.  These are different times though, and different skills and business acumen will be required to win.

Here's how I think Google / Android is missing the boat:  By all reasonable, educated accounts, the Android market all but refuses to pay for apps.  It's in Google's DNA.  Consumers don't pay for anything.  The big problem with this is that good software people simply don't work for free.  If nobody's paying for apps, the best developers simply won't build them.  What you end up with (unless this changes right-quick) is a device with thousands of mediocre, buggy, free apps available (called Android) or a device with good, solid, cheap apps available (called iPhone).  It's already happening.  There is a thriving ecosystem among developers making a good living programming for the iPhone.  Heck, the Angry Birds crew alone has grown to more then 50 full-time people in the past year.  Money makes great things happen, even if only $1 at a time.

Google needs to get off the stick and create a real competitor to the AppStore before they will seriously challenge the iPhone.  This strategy move needs to happen very quickly, because once the iPhone is available on Verizon, the gap is only going to widen between the Droids and iPhone.

Or maybe I've got it all wrong. . . . It's happened before (I think). . .

What do you think?