Things Apple Can Learn From Android: Better Tie-in with the Cloud

Being built by Google, it’s no surprise that Android integrates with Google’s suite of online services seamlessly. Gmail, Google Contacts and Google Calendar are synced over-the-air to Android handsets with little setup. On the other end, Google’s web apps can be used from any computer, regardless of OS, giving users their data anytime, anywhere.

Apple offers MobileMe as a similar service, but with an emphasis on syncing with rich desktop applications, not web-based services. MobileMe works well, but at $100/year, is pricey for what it does. Like Google Sync, MobileMe pushes customers’ data over the air.

iPhone customers can use Google Sync to have their Gmail, Google Contacts and Google Calendar pushed to their phones just like Android handsets. The problem is Google Sync for the iPhone uses Exchange, meaning corporate types — myself included — can’t use Google Sync and MobileMe at the same time, effectively locking people into MobileMe.

In short, Apple needs to offer customers options. There’s no reason the iPhone can’t have Google Sync built-in. There’s no reason the iPhone should be limited to just “grown-up” contact sources — Android devices can also hook into Facebook for contacts. As more things move to the cloud, iPhone customers want options. Options that the iPhone doesn’t offer in its present state. Cloud computing is the future, and Google’s services kick Apple’s services’ collective cloud asses. MobileMe is mediocre at best, and way too expensive. It simply can’t compete with Google’s offerings. Apple needs to embrace that.