Commentary

Android Success Doesn't Rely On'IPad Killer'

Samung-Galaxy-Tab

By partnering with manufacturers and wireless carriers to spread its Android operating system across smartphones, Google showed it didn't have to come up with a single so-called iPhone killer to challenge Apple's signature device.

Android phones for the first time outsold the iPhone in the U.S. in the second quarter and that trend is likely to continue as multiple manufacturers roll out more Android-powered devices. With the unveiling of Samsung's Android-based Galaxy Tab Thursday, the question now becomes whether the tablet will be an iPad killer.

The early reviews suggest the Galaxy Tab is at least a legitimate contender. Its 7-inch display is smaller than the iPad's 9.7-inch screen, but unlike the iPad, the Galaxy Tab supports Flash video and enables video calls via a front-facing camera. With HD video capability and support for a variety of multimedia formats, the Tab is also clearly meant to rival the iPad's a media player.

Based on a demo, Stephen Shankland, who writes CNet's DeepTech blog, called the Tab "an elegant tablet with conveniently compact dimensions, good performance, and a bright, responsive multitouch screen." Tech blog Gizmodo likewise gave the Samsung tablet a thumbs-up after a brief tryout following the Tab's launch at the IFA electronics show in Berlin.

Of course, many questions remain since the device won't be available for months and pricing hasn't yet been set. No wireless carriers for the Tab have been named yet, either. But with an expected price range of $200 to $300, the Samsung tablet would sell for less than half the lowest-price iPad, which goes for $629. The prospective Tab pricing is closer to that of top smartphones and could end up putting pressure on Apple to cut the iPad's price tag.

Another big question is what selection of custom apps the Tab will offer. Android has made gains in building up the Android Market to date, with more than 70,000 titles. And the Tab adapts some basic applications like Gmail, contacts and calendar to take advantage of the larger screen. But how eager will Android developers be to create tablet versions of apps for the Samsung device without knowing whether it will prove a hit?

Separately, Apple worked closely with magazine and newspaper publishers to seed the iPad with high-profile media apps before launch. But Google hasn't exactly fostered close relations with big media players to provide a similar base of industry support for apps on the Tab.

Nevertheless, everything isn't necessarily riding on the Samsung device for Google to compete in the emerging tablet market. As with smartphones, it can partner with other manufacturers and wireless operators to release a variety of new tablets to take on the iPad. Ultimately, there may not be as many different tablets as smartphone models, but Google's multi-pronged approach greatly improves its chances of gaining critical mass for Android on tablets as well as phones.

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