The Android Lovefest Contrasts Apples Singular Provider Position

He called out Verizon's No 1. wireless network, Motorola's large display to make the device attractive, the Android OS itself, and Adobe's Flash platform to enable programmers to build multimedia applications.

Jha and Narayen followed with similarly lavish praise for their partners. You get the idea; it was a lovefest. Those expecting attacks on Apple, the way Google VP of engineering Vic Gundotra attacked Apple and Jobs at Google I/O were sorely disappointed.

Only twice did executives hint at disdain for Apple. First, Jha hyped the Droid X's calling capabilities, which come courtesy of diversified antennas, three microphones and Verizon's network.

"The reason they carry their device with them is because they like actually receiving and making calls and having conversations where both people actually understand each other," Jha said, prompting laughter from the audience.

This was a glancing shot at Apple's focus on other features for iPhone 4 and AT&T's sometimes unreliable network.

Stratton promised Verizon's $29.99 unlimited smartphone data plan meant unlimited from the first day of the month to the last. This was an allusion to AT&T's new tiered pricing that coaxed some irate users into filing lawsuits versus Apple and AT&T.

What's the point, you say? Surely it is only natural for the Android event to be conducted with partners patting each other on the back, a stark contrast to Apple's Jobs wowing the crowd like a singular wizard.

It is. There is a feeling in the industry that Jobs' approach is arrogant and proprietary, whereas Google's Schmidt, Rubin and their partners at Verizon, Motorola, HTC and Adobe present themselves as humble worshippers at the temple of open source.

In short, Apple's approach is the one iPhone to rule them all approach while Google's Android is the loving federation of robot-themed devices built to serve humanity.

Perhaps both perceptions are the current reality. But the bottom line is, this is a business. Jobs would trade sales for friends and partners any day.

This why Apple is still beginning to kick the tail out of the U.S. smartphone business. And this is why Android, although a success in its own right for shipping 160,000 devices per day, is still leagues behind the iPhone in devices sold.

God help Android when Apple gets on Verizon.

What is that saying? Nice guys finish last. Perhaps it's time for Android and its merry followers to toughen up. Any suggestions?