Google’s Schmidt preaches tech utopia to the choir

Google chairman Eric Schmidt is a passionate advocate for the technology industry, and he laid on the charm in an hour-long appearance at Mobile World Congress that was part Chrome commercial, part techno-utopian vision, and part high-brow version of Reddit’s Ask Me Anything. Here’s what he said.

• On the digital divide: “The gap between the top and the bottom will be larger, not smaller, because of the technology I’m describing.” A lot of people think technology will bring the world closer together, but because of the speed at which technology is developed and its cost when first released, those at the top of the food chain will get farther and farther ahead, he said.
• On a mobile future: “Why don’t you just buy a smartphone?” Schmidt’s flip remark to a questioner who wanted to know why Android isn’t on feature phones was designed to make the point that feature phones as we know them will likely go away as smartphones get cheaper. The better question is when smartphones will cost as much as feature phones, and that could happen next year, he said.
• On ITU control of the Internet: “Be very careful about moves which seem logical but have the effect of balkanizing the Internet.” Perhaps Schmidt’s strongest words were saved for a question about the International Telecommunications Union angling for a stronger role in managing and regulating the Internet. He doesn’t think it’s a good idea.