Google CEO Eric Schmidt on Subsidized Netbooks, Mobile TV Plans

by Sam Dean - Mar. 12, 2009Comments (1)

We've written before about successful efforts to put Google's Linux-based Android operating system on netbooks, and E-Ink devices. Now, according to OSnews, Google CEO Eric Schmidt has backed up the idea that he is closely watching the netbook space, where Android-based netbooks are predicted to arrive soon. Schmidt also predicts that netbooks could be subsidized to allow for ultra-low buy-in costs. Additionally, Schmidt recently appeared on the Charlie Rose show on PBS, and discussed Google's plans to enter the mobile TV market. What does all this mean for Android?

As OSnews reports:

"What's particularly interesting about netbooks is the price point," [Schmidt said]. "Eventually, it will make sense for operators and so forth to subsidize the use of netbooks so they can make services revenue and advertising revenue on the consumption. That's another new model that's coming."

OSnews also quotes Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer:

"I assume we're going to see Android-based, Linux-based laptops, in addition to phones. We'll see Google more as a competitor in the desktop operating system business than we ever have before. The seams between what's a phone operating system and a PC operating system will change, and so we have ramped the investment in the client operating system."

"The client operating system" that Ballmer refers to is Windows 7, which is getting good reviews from beta testers and may arrive by summer. As LinuxDevices notes, "rumors have been flying recently that Google is working on a netbook implementation of the Linux/Java Android mobile stack, and that it is collaborating with Asus to develop an Android-based prototype."

In order for Android to run on Asus netbooks, Android would probably have to be ported from the ARM to the x86 architecture. In any case, it's looking like Google may definitely help usher in subsidized, Android-based netbooks. Google's interest here may also explain why Android has been relatively stalled on new handsets.

Schmidt's comments on the Charlie Rose show were provided by TechCrunch in transcript form, where he also discusses Google's plans to enter the mobile TV market. Android is possibly the platform on which Google would make a mobile TV play. Most of Schmidt's comments on mobile TV surround delivering it on phones, but netbooks remain a huge opportunity for Android. As we've written before, Android may become more widespread in the long run on non-phone devices than on phones.