As Mobile Phones Grow More Complex, Carriers Insist on Fewer Operating Systems

Kris Kumar

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/12/t...serland&emc=rss

"Two operating systems run more than 95 percent of the world’s computers, but dozens of systems are behind the 2.5 billion mobile phones in circulation, a situation that has hampered the growth of new services, industry executives and independent specialists say. “There are too many operating systems already and more are coming on stream, making things complicated for smaller software companies,” said Tony Cripps, a senior analyst with the telecommunications consulting firm Ovum in London. Mobile phone carriers are watching with more than passing interest because the new applications they are counting on to increase revenue and profit may make it to only a limited number of phones as software developers struggle to keep up with the different operating systems. Having multiple systems is also time-consuming and costly for the carriers, which must configure the phones they sell."

New York Times has an interesting article [free subscription required] on how the carriers are trying to reduce the number of mobile operating systems they have to support on their networks. Vodafone has already narrowed it down to Microsoft’s Windows Mobile, Symbian Series 60 and Linux. The biggest benefit in doing so is the reduced support costs for the carriers, and the added advantage is that a fixed set of operating system choices encourages developers to add content and services. While I like the concept on paper, I am not so sure if the carriers will be able to pull it off. They may be able to accelerate the process of elimination of the weaklings, but don't you think that the operating systems need to fight it out in the market-space and get eliminated as part of the normal process of evolution of the mobile technology. I do not want the carriers to make the decision, I want the market to make the decision. What are your thoughts?
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dstrauss · Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 1:02 pm Post subject:

Your analysis is correct (let market forces decide) but your conclusion is wrong - they won't. As evidence, look at the strangulation of WiFi services by the various carriers; most prominently Verizon. I would bet market forces would still keep all available radio options on the table, but the carriers rarely miss an opportunity to choke off WiFi access.

Purely survival of the monopolistic fittest. Mad

Stinger · Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 1:27 pm Post subject:

Kris Kumar · Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 4:32 pm Post subject:

Kris Kumar · Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 4:36 pm Post subject:

Jerry Raia · Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 5:11 pm Post subject:

As long as the carriers sell the phones these issues will be complicated. They have a say in what they sell, what goes in it and usually how you can use it. It would much rather buy independently from the maker of the device, plug in the SIM card from my carrier and be on my way. Of course it isn't as simple for the CDMA carriers. I'd like to see this much more like it is for PC's. You can install whatever operating system you want.
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subzerohf · Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 8:45 pm Post subject:

It's the subsidies that choked the consumers. Who wouldn't like to pay $0 for a Samsung BlackJack? We cannot have the cake and eat it, too, you know. Until everyone pays list price for their phones, like the pc market, we won't have much choices other than those dictated by the carriers.

Jerry Raia · Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 9:31 pm Post subject:

Exactly right.
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Stinger · Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 2:07 am Post subject: