Open vs Closed System and Products

On the manufacturing side, engineers have said for decades that proprietary software and hardware design drives up costs. So, can we convince OEMs that following an Open System protocol can be worth it economically? Perhaps we can take a tip from the consumer appliance sector; enter Google and its new cell phone. The biggest differentiator of Google's recently announced cell phone (see video) seems to be its break with the industry's closed-loop model. The phone promises to run any application on any network. The Washington Post says the move coincides with FCC concerns about exclusive handset and roaming practices and net neutrality. Can Google's move convince OEMs to do the same?

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