The New Kindle: Android Tablet Killer

I have argued before that the Android tablet market is a mess and can’t compete with the iPad. I said that the Android manufacturers were developing a tabletized laptop while Apple was developing an “experience” centered around their integrated services.  I made the claim that only Amazon can really take on the iPad with its integrated experience and books, music, video service as well as its own AppStore. Last week it was leaked that Amazon is nearly done with a 7 inch Kindle branded Android tablet. It should sell for about $249 and hit the markets in October or November.

While it is true that Amazon will be taking on the iPad and giving the iPad its first real competition, the real game-changer is for the Android tablet market. Analysts are already saying Amazon will sell 5 million units-this year. (That means in 2 months!) Except for maybe the Galaxy Tab (before Apple sued Samsung due to patents), not a single Android tablet was able to penetrate the market.  If they could not stand a chance against the iPad, they will stand absolutely no chance against both the iPad and Kindle-pad.

Another loser in all of this is Google. Since Android is Open Source, Amazon took a pre 2.2 version of Android, forked it and customized it for its own needs-without any interaction from Google. No Google apps, no Goolge Marketplace, all Amazon branding and Amazon services. So the best selling Android tablet will have nothing to do with Google!