How many companies does it take to team up on Apple? Well, the tricky thing about our favorite fruit company is that they incorporate so many different types of businesses. They’re a hardware company, they’re a software company, they’re a digital media company. There aren’t a lot of other companies out there that can say the same.
So, of course, you need to take the Voltron-like approach of combining into some greater whole. That’s why, for example, the first “Google phone” is a joint venture between the search giant and handset manufacturer HTC (with other hardware makers coming later). That takes care of hardware and software angles—but that still leaves digital media.
Apple’s largest rival in that market (and “large” may be an overstatement with Apple’s overwhelming market share in music, at least) is Amazon, so it’s little surprise that the retail site has thrown their lot in with Android. Amazon will be offering downloads from their MP3 store via Android-powered phones. Just as the iPhone has the iTunes Wi-Fi Store, Android phones will be pre-loaded with the Amazon MP3 store application, with access to over six million DRM-free tracks available at a variety of price points, with over a million under 89 cents.
As with the iPhone, downloading songs from Amazon MP3 requires a Wi-Fi connection, though you can preview, browse, and even purchase songs over T-Mobile’s cell network (say, it’d be nice if iTunes let you do that). And, of course, because they’re MP3s, you can take that music to any other device and play it there.
Does that make Android any more attractive to you guys? Or is it a moot point?
I think competition is good. More innovative iPhone wannabes will spur Apple to improve their product while Apple's competitors will work hard to best Apple's iPhone. Consumers will benefit.
It would be a factor if the phone has a headphone jack.