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up,” explains French. “It makes things like mobile internet fun and easy. More significantly for the industry, Android is the first complete, open, and free mobile platform.” |
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Glass houses |
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As for Microsoft’s Windows Mobile, which recently signed a deal with Nokia, times are getting tough, exclaims Holden: “Clearly the Microsoft deal with Nokia is crucial; Nokia’s marketshare everywhere except North America is number one or two. Historically, Windows Mobile has been one of the leaders in the smartphone market, but my gut feeling is we’ll see Microsoft almost treading water, desperately trying to hang onto marketshare because of what’s coming up behind it, Apple and Android. Microsoft has been a little flat-footed in the chase behind the iPhone phenomenon.” Romeo says no matter how good the operating system, there must be a device associated with it or it won’t go anywhere. This is Microsoft’s problem, he explains: “One of the main issues with Windows Mobile is Microsoft is a software company; there’s no device linked to the software. In the mobile environment, Microsoft has always been at the back, running to get to the front, quite unlike its desktop history. That’s because the mobile industry is hardware-focused. Microsoft needed to engage with a handset manufacturer, to develop a core strategic relationship, which it has now done with Nokia.” Sony Ericsson joined the Open Handset Alliance in December 2008 and announced its intention to develop a handset based on the Android Platform. However, the company also remains committed to using Symbian, Windows Mobile or its own operating system, depending on the handset and target market it is trying to reach, says Nathan Vautier, managing director at Sony Ericsson UK and Ireland. On Microsoft, Vautier states that Sony Ericsson is still behind the platform as one of its chosen operating systems: “We have recently announced our successor to the X1, the X2. Both of these products work on the Windows operating platform and we have seen great success for the X1. Feedback from our customers gives us the confidence that X2 will see the stronger levels of business. This is a clear indication of the strength of the Windows Mobile platform.” |
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Hands down |
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Holden notes that while Apple has been stealing a lead on the marketplace, BlackBerry has been launching a rival app store, and Android has been getting onto some funky handsets, Symbian may have made a faux pas by leaving Nokia, which has now done a deal with Microsoft. “Symbian has detached itself from Nokia and launched the Symbian Foundation; I’m not entirely convinced about that idea,” he muses. Juniper is dubious about the state of Palm’s mobile platform, ponders Holden. He says in terms of marketshare, the manufacturer will struggle over the next few years to make any advances, and is likely to get badly squeezed between Apple and RIM. The reason Palm will not do well going forward is not about the quality of the operating system, but more about marketing power, claims Holden. He notes: “Apple’s got a very strong marketing machine and it can be quite difficult to compete against that kind of power, especially if you’ve only got a very small part of the market.” |
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One winner? |
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Romeo predicts there will not be one mobile platform dominating the rest in years to come. “It’s a very busy environment with lots of players and innovation. I like the idea of polarity of technologies, as different platforms encourage lots of innovation. One approach would mean killing ideas. I do think there will be strong growth in opensource platforms, like Android and other Linux-based platforms.” While Vautier comments: “We are clearly seeing some specialism in the marketplace. Proprietary operating systems are still dominating the prepay market and this will continue for some time yet. In the higher end there is more scope for differentiation as platforms settle down and take their place. Android is clearly very topical and will be increasingly embraced, and Windows and Symbian are equally important. To date, there has not been one style of handset or operating system that has dominated, and this multi-player landscape may well continue.” The high profile players will continue to fight it out for the smartphone market, but it is the mass market where the most interesting developments will happen, comments Olivier Bartholot, vice president of product management at Myriad, a mobile phone software company. “The operating system landscape in the mass market is currently heavily fragmented, which is uneconomical for handset manufacturers; they need to standardise their platforms so they can reduce development time and costs. The standardisation of APIs and development environments through initiatives such as BONDI should help to simplify things,” Bartholot adds. |
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Future fancies |
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As for what are the vital elements that the mobile platform of tomorrow must have, Vautier predicts that flexibility is major requirement. “Future operating systems must be easy for those that consume and those that produce. As the level and breadth of content and applications grows so fast, flexibility is critical to enable people to be able to use it. Consumers are demanding more and more from their handsets and this will ensure we all keep innovating.” Over the next few years, platforms will change to reflect new technologies and the evolving demands of users, whether for increasing levels of personalisation or multimedia features, French comments. French notes that the industry is making great strides forward; customisation and personalisation are increasingly driving the design of mobile handsets, as well and mobile platforms like Android. However, he says there is more to be done. “Consumer demand for a new, innovative and personalised experience will continue to grow. The industry must look to the future and anticipate what tomorrow’s mobile experience will look and feel like. Handset manufacturers, network operators and application developers all have a role to play. It is only by nurturing our partnerships throughout the industry and continuing to work together that we can achieve this vision for an advanced experience, delivered through personalisation,” French concludes. |
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