More Google Apps for iPhone?
We've all see the demo (you have seen the demo, haven't you?), so we know the iPhone will bring access to Google Maps. But what about the other wonderful services you've come to rely on from Google, such as the perpetually-in-beta Gmail or the best in class Google Calendar?
Well, now Engadget has officially started the rumor mill grinding. In an interview with the Seattle Times, AT&T's Glenn Lurie let slip a tantalizing and very vague bit of info. When asked about the price premium that will be required to get your grubby mitts on an iPhone, Lurie launched into a spiel about how Apple's soon-to-be-launched chatterbox will replace several devices -- not just your phone. He then ended with:
"There are other things -- you have the widgets, some of the Google applications that are coming -- there are just so many things here that the price will not be an issue."
Applications. Plural. Engadget is speculating that this means the iPhone could be outfitted with a Google Reader app or a Gmail app, or perhaps even a mobile interface for the much ignored Google Notebook application.
Since the iPhone will already have similar software on it developed by Apple, this rumor hints at the possibility of the iPhone being opened up to third-party software development (programs made by companies other than Apple), which up to now Apple has said wouldn't be the case.
Of course, as with all Apple rumors, you'll want to take this one with a grain of salt. After all, if cars were fueled with iPhone hype and Apple rumors, they'd go a long way towards making global warming a thing of the past.
From Engadget
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
N. Venkatraman @ May 29th 2007 2:03PM
Apple has so far been reluctant to open up the Mac OS architecture (except selectively) and if I were to guess, I would say that it will adopt a similar approach to iphone architecture as well. It may let Google develop apps but I would be really surprised if it would allow a broad-base of 3rd party developers to work on this new innovative platform so early in the game. Let us look at ipod. It was limited to Mac OS for a while before Apple let it sync with Windows. It has not even gone beyond AT&T in choosing mobile operators so far. I expect gradual opening up but not in the beginning. A lot is riding on a successful launch of iphone in June (not just for Apple but also for the newly re-branded AT&T).
DBL @ May 29th 2007 10:33PM
Everybody's missing the point. If Apple succeeds in making the 'widget' the standard app delivery service for cell phone usage, then they can succeed in delivering the first mass-market entirely web-based computing platform. That is huge. iPhone widget development will become the whole game. Now Google apps also have some hardware to live on where they (hopefully) get adopted as a new standard for document exchange. If it works, then Microsoft is no longer anywhere in the picture of the future of personal computing devices and of the most innovative channels of software delivery. This is going to be very interesting...