Gartner has released a slightly revised version of their outlook for the 2012 mobile operating system. The latest predictions put Symbian as the top OS, followed by Android, with BlackBerry in third and iPhone in fourth.
The interesting part of this research is the positioning of BlackBerry relative to the iPhone. The advantage of BlackBerry is that it will always have enough devices to cover the entire gamut of potential smartphone users. While you may not love every device that RIM ships, there will always be a device for you.
While Gartner believes that Open Source OS markets are the future, we aren’t seeing much proof of this. Developers aren’t making enough money on either platform for the devices to be of much of use. We have said this countless times on BlackBerry Cool, it’s the software that determines the winner and hardware is fast becoming secondary with regards to the competitiveness of a device.
1. Symbian
2. Android
3. BlackBerry
4. iPhone
5. Windows Mobile
While we may not know the final outcome until 2012, rest assured it’s the developers who will decide the final victor. So if you’re a developer looking to make that killer app, don’t let Gartner become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Go to the brand you trust and ultimately, go to the brand that’s making you money. I guarantee you it’s not Symbian, Android or Windows Mobile.
Skyfire has announced they have received $5 million in funding. The funds will top off their Series B from existing investors Lightspeed Venture Partners, Matrix Partners and Trinity Ventures. The company will use the funds to support new smartphone platforms beyond Windows Mobile, Symbian and BlackBerry, as well as utilizing their unique technology for solutions beyond the browser.
It’s not obvious yet how RIM’s acquisition of Torch Mobile and their plans to update the browser will affect third party browsers such as Opera Mini and Skyfire. It’s possible that once RIM updates their browser, there will no longer be a need for third party browsers, as the experience would be adequate for the general user. On the other hand, third party browsers have been innovating in the space and there is something to be said for being the first to market. There may always be a need for third party browsers to deliver a browsing experience better than that of the native browser.
Rhomobile has launched a platform that many developers may find useful: an open source porting solution. The open source product is called Rhodes and it allows developers to write once and have their native app run on iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, Windows Mobile and Symbian.
The open source smartphone framework allows developers to write once using HTML to simultaneously create native applications for all smartphones including iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, Symbian and Android. Rhodes creates full featured native apps (not web apps) with advanced capabilities and access to functions including GPS, camera and PIM.
The above comparison chart is an interesting way to look at the smartphone market’s most popular devices. The list is missing Nokia, Motorola and LG, but the chosen devices are close competitors and the information is still very well put together.
Before you let the Hatorade out about this list, the author would like you to know a few things:
I used a set of arbitrary criteria to set up this chart, but I’ll tell you what they are. For iPhone 3.0, we’re using only features Apple permits. Yes, it’s possible to jailbreak or unlock your iPhone to add other features or carriers, but Apple will consider you an enemy and try to destroy your phone if you do that, so we don’t approve. For Windows Mobile, we only used features available in the US marketplace right now–though Windows Mobile 6.5 won’t change the landscape much. For Google Android, we used features publicly available on the G1, HTC Magic or Google Developer phones. And for Palm Pre, we guessed as best we could based on Palm’s public statements.
Yes, I left out Symbian. They’re just not a force in the US marketplace right now, and I’m a US writer. Maybe next year, guys.
This chart tries to steer clear of hardware features that may vary by phone model with the more prolific OSes
.
Some things I would note about the list:
BlackBerry applications are probably in a number range close to Windows Mobile. Since both platforms cater to enterprise, when a company develops for Windows Mobile it usually includes a BlackBerry port.
App World is coming soon so that will be added to BlackBerry’s column.
I would have compared BlackBerry on BES because it’s an enterprise device that should be used on said system.
At MWC, Microsoft talked Windows Mobile and how it’s targeting consumers with it’s new user interface and quick keys. Upcoming WinMo devices will have a “Windows” button, which is similar to the “Start” button on older devices or the “Home” button on the Diamond series.
The Windows button and the back button, along with the call send and end buttons are very similar to the keys on a BlackBerry. Even the behavior of the Windows button is BlackBerry-like. Hitting the new Windows button on 6.5 doesn’t evoke the Start menu, but rather the key press will evoke a programs menu or applications launcher. This behavior is very similar to hitting the BlackBerry button, which takes you to the programs launcher.
I suspect a lot of Microsoft employees secretly use BlackBerrys because they’re more user friendly. Nice try WinMo, we’re on to you!
For those of you that thought yesterdays photos of a virtual BlackBerry OS running on a Windows Mobile HTC Touch Pro were fake, the video above should put you at ease. As someone that has been using the BlackBerry Storm for awhile, the concept of navigating the BlackBerry OS with a stylus doesn’t seem too weird. Of course, the whole WinMo thing makes me feel dizzier than Jimmy Stewart in Vertigo. Keep up the good work, Ronen!
I’ve been searching for an app that gives you the functionality of the Windows Mobile “today” screen, something that essentially briefs me on all of my appointments, missed calls, emails and text messages in one convenient place. Enter e-Mobile Today by E-Mobile Software, Inc.. This is one sharp looking app that’s packed with features. It allows you to do everything described above, without really requiring you to leave the application to remain up-to-date on things. If you find that the regular version is lacking, you can always go with e-Mobile Today Professional Edition which allows you to everything the regular version does, and more. In addition to offering more visual customization options, the professional edition offers all of the convenient launch points to multiple tasks – replying to e-mails and SMSs, calling people directly from the missed call log, creating new appointments, etc. – that you wouldn’t find in the standard version. You can even add a few expansion packs (weather, stocks, and news) to make your home screen more complete!
e-Mobile Today v. 2.0 and e-Mobile Today Professional Edition v. 2 for BlackBerry Review Quick Links
Here’s a brief rundown of the week that was from your friendly family of bloggers in Ottawa, Canada. Below you’ll find news from our WinMo and mobile entertainment blogs, with a bunch of great BlackBerry Cool content after the jump.
PCPro wrote an interesting post regarding the potential for Microsoft to buyout RIM. Microsoft has a substantial amount of cash on its balance sheet ($23 billion) and with RIM valued at $34 billion, the acquisition would be financially viable. Not only is the takeover financially plausible, it would be a synergistic move by Microsoft to acquire such a powerful smartphone manufacturer. Although I don’t like the idea of Windows Mobile appearing on a BlackBerry, I see the value in owning this space.
BlackBerry Connect is still kicking, doing its best to bring BlackBerry services like push e-mail and PIM synchronization to other devices. Although its future with Nokia looks grim, Windows Mobile just an updated version for the Motorola Q9h. Any Moto Q users in the house can grab the new software from the IM & Chat folder if they’re running Windows Mobile 6.1, or go to www.motorola.com/us/Q9h/BlackBerryConnect on their mobile browser if running WinMo 6.0. Find more info on the latest BlackBerry Connect software over here.
