AT&T has finally add the Google Android platform to its portfolio of mobile twist with thelaunch of the Motorola Backflip . AT&T , the single provider of the Apple iPhone in the United States , now offer business professional a more various array of choice – expanding even further later this year with the expected addition of devices based on Palm ’s WebOS .
Since the insertion of the iPhone in 2007 , the fortunes and pitfalls of AT&T seem to bank almost exclusively on that one chopine . AT&T provide a orbit of nomadic devices — feature article phones , BlackBerry devices , smartphones based on the Windows Mobile platform , and more . However , it is the iPhone that gets all of the tending — both good and big .
business and business professionals that favor AT&T as a wireless service provider , or that find themselves lock into AT&T through contractual obligation or because it ’s the chopine chosen by their employer have had to sit on the Android sideline and watch with invidia as the world embraced the mobile platform .
The launch of the Motorola Droid , and the monumental marketing military campaign Verizon unleashed to promote it , threw down a thinly - veil , not - so - insidious attack on the shortcomings of the iPhone . Verizon ’s selling safari has been much more direct about attack the weaknesses of the AT&T wireless electronic web behind the iPhone — sparking a legal struggle between the two which was eventually dropped .
plain , AT&T get down the last laugh , though . Or , they at least get to win this round of the on-going battle . Despite relentless rumour and speculation that Apple would stop its exclusive transcription with AT&T and begin to distribute the iPhone through additional wireless providers — like Verizon — Apple has defend AT&T and doubled down on its partnership with the wireless supplier by denote it as the single provider of3 G networking for the coming iPad .
So , AT&T remains as the exclusive provider of the democratic iPhone , is also anointed as the sole supplier of 3 1000 connectivity for the iPad , and also now provides customers with more choice by also supply smartphones build on the Google Android platform .
If you ’re an AT&T customer who has been admire the Droid or Nexus One with invidia from afar , do n’t kill the cork on the Champagne-Ardenne just yet , though . The Motorola Backflip bring Android to AT&T , but the Backflip is no Droid .
The Backflip is a alone unexampled form factor , flipping receptive to provide a wider , big QWERTY keyboard with a landscape painting display . It comes with Motorola ’s innovative Motoblur interface – a good concept that still has some kinks to work out . Bottom line of descent , though — it is not as compelling as the Droid or Nexus One .
On top of that , AT&T is proffer the Backflip for $ 99 with a two - year contract bridge — the same price as the foundation manakin iPhone 3G. cede , it is sleazy than the more capable iPhone 3GS , but it does n’t seem to provide the same economic value , and it wo n’t fill that void for AT&T customers that are envious of the Droid or Nexus One .
The add-on of Android to the AT&T portfolio is neat news for AT&T customer . Hopefully the Backflip will be the first of many Android devices , and the accession of the Palm WebOS platform will make AT&T the wireless provider with the most diverse selection of mobile platforms .
I think it option is dear and , as an AT&T customer I appreciate having options . Pardon me if I ’m not that mad yet , though . Call me when AT&T gets the Droid or Nexus One .
