Thoughts on why Google should enable Exchange support for Android

[Andor]

There's been a lot of discussion recently about Android's lack of exchange support.

Should it really fall on 3rd party developers to create a fix or should the onus be on google to make sure that the G1 and subsequent Android devices support the exchange?

Anyone can develop for the android platform - which means *YOU* or Microsoft or anyone with some motivation could build software to allow *ANY* android based phone to support Microsoft Exchange. It's Open Source, do people not get what that means? It's not Google's responsibility to make sure that every phone built on Android does everything, or anything for that matter, it's now up to the developer community to make that apps and features that we want/need. I say a better placed criticism would be on Microsoft - why have they not released Android based MS Exchange email app? Is it because they don't want people to buy Google phones? Hmm.

Google creates a new mobile phone OS that doesn't support the most widely-used mail exchange platform in the world and that's somehow Microsoft's fault? Let's blame Apple for the fact that Android doesn't support Objective C, either, while we're at it. Yes, I understand that Android is open source & that anyone can write for it and make these things happen. But, Google obviously made the decision that leave these items out of the OS. Maybe they ran out of time for Exchange and felt pressured by the success of the iPhone. Maybe they're counting on the developer community to handle this for them. Maybe they think they can survive without Exchange support. The fact of the matter is this: Microsoft is already king of the exchange world. They don't need Google's help there. So, why should they devote resources to helping Google's OS?

http://googlewatch.eweek.com/content...id.html?kc=rss

What do you guys think, shouldn't Google just workout a licensing deal with Microsoft to enable Exchange to work with Android?

[daragh]

Simply put, this function is mentioned in just about every single review of the device. Someone (remember this is a partnership of hardware/software/os/network providers) should be on this. The whole MS/Google thing might get in the way for Google to do it, but why doesn't HTC/Funambol/T-Mobile do the first generation (before Moto/?/AT&T do).

[PhantomTrace]

Originally Posted by daragh

Simply put, this function is mentioned in just about every single review of the device. Someone (remember this is a partnership of hardware/software/os/network providers) should be on this. The whole MS/Google thing might get in the way for Google to do it, but why doesn't HTC/Funambol/T-Mobile do the first generation (before Moto/?/AT&T do).

co-sign___ also greed contributes to a big factor.

[Vaporx07]

I agree, the fact that in the realm of smartphones, Blackberry and MS Mobile OS dominate right now, and they have exchange support. If you want to be in the same league, you need to atleast offer what they do right, and then some. I feel like the Android OS is brilliant, the open source factor is great for consumers, the Android market is filling up with great apps, but the one thing lacking, that could really win the Google built OS is the lack of Exchange. Remember, most of the market for smartphones is that of business folk, and MS Exchange drives A LOT of the businesses out there for email...

[jamofo]

I like the fact it don't support M$ Exchange, lol

[MikeMSD]

I really, really want to buy a G1, I just can't do it because of the lack of Exchange support. Granted there are some apps coming out now, but none of them offer full ActiveSync capability. I know the phone is marketed towards consumers, rather than business users. However consumers still have to work. I use my Blackberry for both work and personal. I don't want to have to start carrying two cell phones because one is for work, and the other is for personal use.

Google seems to want to keep everyone on their messaging platform. The only viable sync solution I've seen so far involves a desktop client that shadows my Outlook to my Gmail account. There is no way I'm putting my corporate E-mails with sensitive data in the cloud. Plus, having to run a desktop redirect client is a huge step back for everyone with Blackberry and BES.

Once there is some sort of way to get my Exchange information (E-mail, Contacts, Calendar, Tasks, and Notes) securely onto an Android phone, I am buying one. I don't care if I have to pay for an Outlook client for the phone, it'd be worth it.

[hej]

The arguments for Google producing any apps for Android are pretty straight forward:

- Consistent UI look and feel between the apps
- Quality assurance, VS. your usual 'perpetual beta' open source or single developer apps
- Standardised support, meaning available out of the box for all Android based devices

Honestly, I don't know why Google would leave it up to 3rd parties to fill in any big features that would be in obvious demand.