It's not likely to greatly affect the future potential of Google's
Android's big push to the mobile market was made in the lull between Apple's
Now some partners are conceding a less-than-torrid pace toward launching Android-based phones this year. While Google would have liked to see Android make a big splash this holiday season, many providers will be struggling to simply get a device on the shelf. For instance, Sprint Nextel
I'm sure Verizon Wireless isn't shedding any tears today. The mega-carrier butted heads with Google for months over open-network and device policies before going its own route and adopting Linux as a preferred software platform on its future mobile devices. But Verizon isn't bragging (yet, anyway) -- no earth-moving progress toward an open-application, open-device network has happened in the telco's neck of the woods, either.
For investors, the delay in getting Android to market -- if it can even be called a delay -- is a non-issue. Technology integration always seems to take longer than hoped, and Google and friends are better off getting open devices right than rushing them to market under iPhone-inspired hype. This is a very long race, and we're only in the trials stage. Besides, the big money is made in the stretch.
For more Foolishness: