Android and iOS mobile war can not win - Computerworld.nl

Background – Android and iOS can never win the mobile war. Windows Phone also does not stand a chance. The problem with stories in this context is that they focus on the Western world, and do not play the war himself.

smartphone world in the rich world becomes saturated. The real growth is in emerging markets, as it is mainly what we describe as poor countries who now benefit from lower prices for hardware and increasing connectivity. GSM holds (we have still mostly about dumbphones) in central and southern Africa has become quite normal.

If Google’s Project Wage cheap wireless broadband Internet is not introduced in those countries, then a different technology do it. And it will take years before an Android or Windows phone to people in those countries as cheap as a current Nokia mobile phone.

This reality creates space for a new platform. A smartphone OS that takes into account the limitations of cheap phones has huge potential to grow. OEMs as the Chinese ZTE are used to working with small margins and have tremendous expertise in delivering very cheap handsets. They see it as a priority to conquer, while Samsung and Apple’s of this world only to watch the big margins. Emerging markets

It is waiting for a player who dares to an underexposed in this segment of the jump with an inexpensive, simplified product while the rest of the world focuses on the premium market. market

I think there is enough space for a platform that Android and iOS is still very difficult to make – both have at this moment in the house what it takes to be successful in the emerging markets. So what is the platform of the future?

1. Nokia

Beyond that Nokia and Microsoft are trying to compete with the iPhone, the company has always had a great distribution network and there is sufficient expertise to be able to sell in emerging markets. Indeed, for a long time Symbian was the main platform for the non-Western world … there until the plug was pulled. It could be very cheap Windows Phones or Windroids (Windows phones with Android services).

2. Firefox

For Firefox I have made the case previously. They jump fully into the hole that I sketched. Firefox has all the functionality onboard. It is also based on HTML5, so it’s lightweight and open to all developers. It is a player to be reckoned with, but they are not the only hijacker on the coast.

3. Google Android

Google does not seem to focus on this market, but they should not be underestimated. Google’s corporate culture gives up two things price: they go on like mobile area and they will never be blindsided by another player. Google has many resources available and if they seize the opportunity, it is quite possible that we see in no time a special version of Android for emerging markets.

4. China Android

I wrote above purpose ‘Google Android’ and not just ‘Android’ because Android now extends well beyond just Google. In China, where the search engine Google is otherwise prohibited, several manufacturers are busy with forks that Google has no control. Especially Xiami, one of the fastest growing Chinese OEMs, has a spectacular fork in the making.

5. Amazon

Amazon will most likely not play a role of any importance to play. Amazon has little to do with emerging markets, but should not be leveled out because they will come. Sooner or later with its own smartphone Amazon is known to always compete on price and that’s important. For this fight Finally, Amazon also announced that they are able to do unexpected things. Who would have thought five years ago that Amazon would build data centers for the CIA’s own television and games would produce and would work on drones and robots?

6. Safaricom

Safaricom is one of the largest telcos in Kenya. Telcos are no software and platform specialists, but Safaricom is the exception. Proof of this is the incredibly successful M-Presa mobile payment. M-Pesa is now present in Kenya, Tanzania, Afghanistan, South Africa and India and the most frequently used mobile payment system in the world. If Safaricom decide a cheap smartphone for the African continent to build, then it has been the brand name and distribution network to quickly convert large steps to go.

7. Or someone we do not expect it …

It does not necessarily have to be that emerging markets will dominate any large business. After all, we live in a world where it is possible to design and manufacture to outsource, where software is open source, which developers can work and where distribution models are constantly changing throughout the world. Startups are springing out of the ground. Landslides find once in a while instead. Maybe it’s Android or iOS smartphone for the next billion consumers at the time of writing it is worth remembering in a garage in Shanghai, Mumbai or Nairobi and worked.