Moving forward Woodside will be bringing in some new management to mix with the existing team (again nothing new here). With the transition there will be a learning curve for Google and the new management team. This is probably one of the biggest reasons that Google has agreed with the request by China to keep Android open for at least the next five years. In the near term there has to be a reorganization of staff and resources at almost all levels of Motorola. We also expect Google to sell off or close out their set top box cable division and focus on mobile products completely.

So this gives us a relatively short five years to see if there will be an upstart to Android (for phones not made by Apple). It is true that some will begin to look to Microsoft and their Windows Phone OS, but as that has a very small and shaky foot hold in the market it is unlikely to be the hero in this instance. We also have to point out that what many manufacturers and consumers like about Android is its flexibility. People as a whole are growing tired of not being able to do what they want on their phones. Operating systems like iOS, Windows Phone and BlackBerry are not flexible enough to keep some people happy (although we know that many will still love their iPhone).

Now this is betting on Google pulling in the reins on Android and pushing their own products over their former partners. We do know that Google wants to market their own brand of phones, tablets and other portable devices, but could have a rough time with companies like Samsung and HTC holding dominant positions in the market (and with better devices in many cases). So Google needs to be very careful as they push this one forward. Right now, everyone is pretty happy with Android and would probably like to keep using it, but if Google starts trying to charge for Android things could change quickly. Some are already concerned by the change in CEO so soon after the purchase was complete and see this as a possible sign that Google will not stick to its word to run Motorola as a separate company that still licenses Android like everyone else.

What Google really needs to do is leave Android open and work on actually putting out compelling devices with their new toy. This will mean slowing down the release cycle as well as making up with Microsoft so that they can actually import the phones into the US.

We have a feeling that even now, one of Google’s rivals is working on a new phone OS… just in case.

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