Android and Exchange, a theory

Yesterday's unveiling of the first Android-based phone, launched by Google, HTC and T-Mobile, showed off some fun features and applications, especially the new StreetView with built-in compass (see the video here). But observers have been pretty vocal about the G1's lack of Exchange support, saying it's a deathknell for the phone in the corporate space. While Google, HTC and T-Mobile were pretty upfront about the fact that the G1 is aimed squarely at consumers, not business users, the Exchange snub actually fits in well with Google's overarching mobile strategy. Exchange wasn't invited to the party on purpose.

The whole point of Android, Google's Chrome browser rollout, and especially Google Apps and Gears, is to get people comfortable doing business, anywhere/anytime, in a non-Windows world. If you can converse, get your e-mail, collaborate on a document, read your news, access your apps both online and off, etc., all on a mobile device via a browser, what's the point of Windows? It's just overhead standing between you and the work you want to do. Plus, the three vendors seemed to be positioning the new phone as a laptop alternative, not an adjunct. (Another notable piece missing from the G1 was the ability to sync up--or even tether--to a laptop or desktop.) Why lug a laptop bag when you can do the same work on a device sitting in your pocket, anywhere, anytime? Sync up your address book and calendar in the cloud and go.

Of course, Google is nowhere near reaching that goal--where users, both consumers and business--are comfortable working outside the traditional realm of Microsoft and Windows. Very few consumers, nevermind businesses, can envision dumping Windows for Linux and a tricked out mobile phone. But that doesn't mean they won't consider it, especially as more devices and applications roll out. Google's carefully layed the foundation path in place. It will be interesting to see if its vision of a Windowless mobile future comes to pass.