An interesting comment from Christopher Sacca, principle in new business development at Google, on how the emergence of VoIP service is putting hardware manufacturers in a tricky position when they try to get into VoIP, but maintain their relationships with cellular telephone companies:

But hardware makers are also exploring ways to take advantage of VOIP (voice over IP), which could leave cellular operators and their per-minute billing out of the equation, he said.

"We’re getting stuff shipped to us by everybody — by Motorola, by Siemens, by Philips, by Sony, by Nintendo," Sacca said. Some of the devices are coming from behind-the-scenes development groups at those companies — some of which are deeply involved in the traditional cell phone business. In some cases, "we’re meeting with somebody, but it’s behind the CEO’s back," he said.

This is a tough position for the manufacturers to be in.  On the one hand, they don’t want to damage relationships with their existing customers, the cell companies.  On the other hand, VoIP is really taking off, and being one of the first movers on it will probably bring a major competitive advantage.