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The Shortcomings of Google's Open Handset Alliance

Posted by Soulskill on from the modeled-off-the-un dept.

eldavojohn writes "Former T-Mobile and Apple executive Leslie Grandy reports some pretty harsh words about Google's Open Handset Alliance. We've heard grumblings before about control in open source projects, but now an unnamed former leader of an OHA member company is calling the OHA 'oligarchical,' and said, 'The power is concentrated with the Google employees who manage the open source project. The Open Handset Alliance is another myth. Since Google managed to attract sufficient industry interest in 2008, the OHA is simply a set of signatures with membership serving only as a VIP Club badge.' But what privileges do they have? Not many. The OHA's problems don't stop there; Grandy maintains that 'many OHA members are developing proprietary user experiences, which they are not contributing back into Android — as is standard for open source projects — for fear of losing competitive advantage in the marketplace.' She goes on to paint the OHA as toothless and directionless, with a nearly abandoned message board. It's been around for almost three years, and while Android has become more prevalent, the OHA's contributions seemingly have not. Do you agree that the OHA has amounted to nothing but a checkbox for manufacturers?"

4 of 208 comments (clear)

  1. The truth comes out. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Google is FAR MORE CONTROLLING than Apple and android is a less open platform than the iPhone.

    Think Different.
    Think Better.
    Think Apple!

    1. Re:The truth comes out. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Apple uses lube, and tells you exactly how they are going to fsck you.

      google let's you search for it and guess which method they will use.

      MSFT just straps a 12" dildo onto steve ballmer and says you pay me to do this to you.

  2. Re:Pot? Kettle? Black? by Yamata+no+Orochi · · Score: 2, Funny

    Mr. Pot meat Mr. Kettle

    Sounds like a stag film.

  3. Re:Google oligarchy than Apple fascism by whisper_jeff · · Score: 2, Funny

    At least google doesnt send private 'representatives' to ask permission to 'search' people's homes

    Why should they search your home? They already know more about you than your mother does. Or have you not been paying attention to the information Google has been gathering at a dramatic rate?