IP Democracy: Let's Stop Calling Cool Devices "Phones"

A blogger who is new to me, Simeon Simeonov of HighContrast, has this item that offers a lot of specifics on what is called the “Google Phone,” a device that is supposedly under development by the search giant.

Simeon says that Google has 100 people working on the Google Phone, which has the following features and characteristics:

—Blackberry-like, slick device
—C++ core w/ OS bootstrap (some version of Linux?)
—Optimized Java running on the C++ core (similar to what Andy did at Danger)
—Vector-based presentation courtesy of Skia’s technology
—Many services, including VoIP

Note that voice is almost an afterthought in this rumored device. It is the last thing listed (“including VoIP). So why, exactly, is it called the Google “Phone,” albeit a name being applied to a rumor by bloggers.

In reality it seems to be a major hand-held Internet device that also happens to have a voice feature. Just like the Apple iPhone.

Which brings me to my point: why are all these cool devices called “phones?” My phone stinks and can’t do much that’s interesting, while these gadgets support everything from video viewing to Internet access to word processing to easy information sharing.

Google CEO Eric Schmidt underscored this point today when asked at an investor conference what he thought about Apple’s iPhone. Schmidt said “the iPhone is certainly going to be an incredible product. Part of the reason it’s going to be an incredible product is that it is the first full-featured phone with a real user interface designed to do Internet browsing. So as Apple talks about the iPhone they talk about it as both a musical device, a communications device, as well as a browsing device.”

The exciting thing about the iPhone, then, is not the “phone” part but everything else, particularly the free and unfettered Internet browsing aspect of the device. Maybe Apple fought so hard for the iPhone name in order to target the millions of mobile phone owners in an effort to persuade them to switch out their clunky handsets in favor of the sleek all-in-one media and Internet unit.

That makes sense, but really, the iPhone, the Google Phone, and all other pocket information and entertainment platforms that are headed our way really deserve a moniker that goes beyond “phone.”

Posted by Cynthia Brumfield on March 5, 2007 7:23 PM to IP Democracy