Google phone: What 'open' really means to Google

Google is not really for openness because Google won't allow 'open' auctions for its keyword advertising so bidders could track the bidding and have some influence over the outcome.

• The reason Google won't allow 'open' key word auctions is that it would immediately expose how much Google anti-competitively self-deals and front-runs the auction to the advantage of Google and the disadvantage of Google's customers. 
•   Google's real definition for 'open' is 'Google-favored.'

When it comes to openness and privacy, Google certainly does not lead by example.

• Google's double standard is "do what I say, not what I do."

If you take a close look at the Google phone and all its real restrictions, you will find Google doing a lot of the "blocking, degrading, and impairing" that Google has long preached that it was opposed to on principle. The reality is that the Google phone has:

• No choice of browser.
• No choice for search engine.
• No choice for email.
• No choice for calendar.
• No choice for maps.
• No choice for how Google collects or uses your private information from the Google phone.

Ironically, this is exactly the kind of phone and service that Google said was not 'open' and was opposed to in its letter to the FCC during the 700 MHz auction, in which it argued that the FCC mandate "openness" for winners of the 700 MHz wireless auction.

Bottom line: If Google really believed in 'openness' and it wasn't just a clever lobbying scheme to imprison its broadband competitors, it would lead by example and actually introduce a phone with service that was as 'open' as Google lobbied for. 

Unfortunately Google is not really for openness because Google won't allow 'open' auctions for its keyword advertising so bidders could track the bidding and have some influence over the ultimate outcome.

• The reason Google won't allow 'open' key word auctions is that it would immediately expose how much Google anti-competitively self-deals and front-runs its auctions to the advantage of Google and the disadvantage of Google's customers.
•  Google's real definition for 'open' is 'Google-favored.'