Yesterday I posted some thoughts on the Google-Verizon framework, offering what turns out to be a pretty widespread sensibility, at least in the punditocracy, that this whole thing feels off, not like Google, counter to the brand.
There had to be another reason Google would do this, something super important that forced its hand, something so crucial to its own perceived future that it would be willing to upset its core brand advocates.
But what? I wrote: “it gives me the sense that the two parties are colluding in some way, creating and/or obscuring potential loopholes which will allow side deals in other parts of their business.”
I then suggested this had to do with Android. And perhaps it does.
But a very well placed source just sent me a thoughtful note, and it immediately stuck a nerve. Perhaps this has not to do with Android as much as it does the future of television.
Google TV, according to those that see it, is very very powerful stuff, and a major weapon on Google’s war with Apple (not to mention Microsoft and others). It’s streaming, interactive HD with the web folded into it (and it’s based on Android). And to work, it will need a fast lane on the ol’ info superhighway. 
A really fast lane. And perhaps, preferential treatment to boot.
Might Google petition that Google TV is an “Additional Online Service” outside the protected net neutrality framework it’s developing with Verizon? Such a service sure would drive subscriptions for Verizon and customers and advertisers for Google.
Hmmm. I think I’ll ask.
Wow!That’s cool!!
Google TV will be very dominating to all.
I hope I can get of those someday.
“But a very well placed source just sent me a thoughtful note, and it immediately stuck a nerve. Perhaps this has not to do with Android as much as it does the future of television.”
It’s best to do one thing really, really well. Google does search.
Of all things to throw away Googliness on, Android/TV/horoscopes/chat/whatever is not even the thing that makes Google Google. If you compromise the core on something that’s not core, what does that say about the remainder of your core?
Just saying.
@JG, They’re run out of growth in search ads. Like Microsoft, they have to find growth to please Wall Street and they have the hubris to believe they can always grow bigger. How long until we see a Google game console? Google (hosted) CRM?
http://wmpoweruser.com/media-room-client-for-windows-phone-7-confirmed/
Google TV. Of course!
I referenced this in a post on my site. Thanks for the insight!
http://brianshall.com/content/googles-betrayal-yo-money-its-gotta-be-tv
@JG, They’re run out of growth in search ads. Like Microsoft, they have to find growth to please Wall Street and they have the hubris to believe they can always grow bigger.
You’re correct, of course. I am simply registering my frustration at the massive, massive gap between the stated ideals of 1998-2004, and the reality of today. Remember Page, Brin, and Schmidt claiming that they were going to keep Google Google for the next 30-odd years? That Google really was a long-term vision, not a short term compromise? That Google really was a “different” sort of company?
It was written all over their mission statement. It was written all over their IPO.
And forget 30 years.. they’ve barely lasted 5 years, if that. (One could argue that the moment they started scanning copyrighted materials without regard to ownership, or the moment they went into China, were also major compromises of the Google promise to be “different”. In which case they didn’t even last 2 years, much less 5.)
Somebody please correct my perception if I am wrong, but I think that part of the reason I care so much about this is that I think one of the major reasons Google rose to prominence starting 10 years ago *wasn’t* just the quality of their web search. It was also the rich geek cred that they built by taking the philosophical positions that they took. Based on that cred, the geeks then went out and evangelized for Google, telling their friends, parents, siblings, teachers about Google. The geeks were that initial word-of-mouth that gave Google its boost, its rise.
And now that Google is turning on the very things that made Google Google, the things that the geeks evangelized in the first place, I feel that if Google had acted this way in the beginning, the geeks would have never evangelized it to begin with.
This one is really cool. It will really make others so excited using this application. I wished I have this one someday.
Well!! side deals are bound to happen… Apple is teaming up with Intel and Logitech to offer even better services and Microsoft isn’t behind as well. We are bound to see some real competition coming in to the industry.
I said that the second i read the document and screamed it in the chat room @leoleport during twig… Id put money that google is looking hard at FIOS for google tv. think for a moment
Verizon wireless + android
fios has a vcast service for people who have both tv and wireless.
fios is all about fiber networks everywhere. their tv service is ip based. add google tv and that is true competition with comcast & other.
Google has dish locked in. imagine if they could have had the ceo of verizon at that google I/O demo. my bet is that they needed this deal closed in order to make it happen.
Wow!That’s a really cool idea.
Google dominates one area of the internet after another. Does anyone know when this news product is available in germany?