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HTC CMO John Wang weighed in today on the question of a conflict of interest for HTC, as it produces both a multitude of high end Windows Mobile phones and the new G1 Android phone.

Wang not only sees no conflict between Windows Mobile and Android but says the two are actually complimentary systems.

Windows Mobile and Android handsets form separate ecosystems with their own merits and advantages. The former provide users with high performance, interoperability and a large library of applications, while the later give handset design companies and developers more flexibility.

Wang also disagreed with the popular wisdom that the key to Android’s success will be it’s open source nature, saying that Linux and LinMo based phones have been available for some time and did not make even a ripple on the market. Rather he feels that Android’s “innovation” and deep connection to the internet (and thusly Google) will be the keys for the OS.

As to the future, he says that HTC will continue developing devices for both operating systems, but that Windows Mobile will continue to be their bread and butter.

My general feeling from seeing what Wang has to say is that despite all the hoopla, HTC is viewing Android users as a niche market for the time being. Personally I hope to see more high-concept phones using Android from HTC as the OS matures. Really innovative designs that make the most of different flavors of the open source operating system, perhaps some custom builds for specific uses. If the OS really is totally open and unstructured, why use it to make still more ”iPhone and BlackBerry Killers”? It is true that Android could have a lot going for it if it catches fire with Third Party app developers, and Apple of late seems to be doing it’s damndest to help them out in that respect. Despite the failings of the G1, this is just the start for Android.

However, the next game changer on the horizon in my opinion will be Microsoft’s leaked development of an Application Store type feature. While they are entering that area quite late in the game, I don’t think anyone can say that either iPhone or Android supports even a fraction of the applications that WM does. I mean, what percentage of iPhone apps have little or no use beyond being ways to show off your iPhone to your prom date?  Eighty percent maybe? Virtual cigarette lighters, Facebook frontends, “Talk like a Pirate” translators…give me a break please. Once the wealth of mature, useful applications that are supported by Windows Mobile can be easily downloaded onto a phone from a single online source, I feel perceptions about WM and it’s role in the business world will improve.

With WM making business and productivity software easier to download and install while being closely linked into enterprise networks, and Android opening the doors to more open source innovation while functioning in Google’s new Cloud, they may very well prove to be a one-two punch for HTC…and for phone users.

Dual Boot phones, anyone?

(Source – Digitimes)

Zealot (469 Posts) - Website | Twitter | Facebook

By day a department manager and writer for a major network device vendor...by night Zealot stalks the mean magnetic streets, striking fear into the hearts of bandwidth abusers and theme park mascots. Zealot has been involved with mobile devices for more than a decade now, starting off with dumb phones, moving to PDAs and then to smartphones, notebooks and netbooks with the odd PMP thrown in. Most of his mobile time currently is spent on a Treo Pro, Zune HD, Thinkpad T61, Gigabyte M912M or a Hackintoshed Compaq Mini 704. He proudly groks the Geek community and considers himself a Neo Maxi Zune Dweebie (thanks Will Wheaton!).