Dear Google: Stick with Software

Everyone is no doubt already aware of Google's entry into the Mobile market. [Thanks to RogerS at InternetTabletTalk for the link.] It's software only, which is a good move on Google's part. They KNOW software. They KNOW how to integrate their products. Now I'm going to tell Google some things they know already: Don't make a phone of your own. Why?

They're better than you. Nokia, Motorola, HTC, and others have been doing this for years. They have dozens of phones on the market, brand trust, and experience to make hardware and an integrated OS.

You're not ready to support hardware. Google products (excepting the Google Search Appliance) are all software and are offered without warranty of any kind. In fact, many are still tagged with "beta." You can't do that with a consumer electronics device. You have to offer warranty support, distribution channels, a call center, and a "finished" product out the door.
People already have phones. That's right. NEW phone sales are slowing with carriers now requiring two-year contracts. Ask any consumer what they hate about their carrier. Count how many times "two year commitment" shows up.

Software can stay carrier independent. Look at the iPhone and how the lust for the word "unlocked" drives people to spend so much more for them. The Nokia Nseries, including the internet tablet, are available on all GSM carriers without commitment.

Now let's talk tablets:
Imagine, if you will, Google for Maemo. This will incorporate a series of software package to run on top of Internet Tablet OS and will combine Google products:

Gmail
Google Calendar
Google Documents
GTalk

YouTube

Picasa
Blogger
Jaiku

And (fanfare) Google Gears for offline use

Now imagine all this linked to a single Google Account driving the whole tablet. Take this suite of online-to-offline applications and put them on a phone too. Now let that suite run on all phones, all carriers, and in all countries. There's your Google phone - and it's already in everyone's pocket.