An article in the Joongang Daily today points to the obvious importance of operating systems in the rapidly changing "smart phone" market. As shown in the accompanying graphic, the iPhone and Android phones are expected to gain market share over the next several years, at the expense of Symbian, Blackberry and Windows Mobile. As the article notes, consumers are more and more likely to ask themselves, "Do I want an Android or a Windows Mobile?" rather than "Do I want a Samsung or Motorola?" This observation is partly true, but what is really going to drive consumer decisions in the next several years is not the OS per se, but rather the information that is accessible and the power of the applications allowed with that OS and how the OS interacts with the applications. To put it another way, if Google's array of online applications work equally well on an Android, iPhone or Symbian phone, then those three operating systems are going to share the market roughly equally. It is the underlying content and information, rather than the OS itself, that will determine the power of these new handheld devices. They are more than simply "smart phones," and they are also more than just a hand-held personal computer. They are information machines that draw heavily upon mobile access to broadband internet, global positioning data, and live visual information (as in augmented reality applications like the iPhone's INeedCoffee app here in Korea). It will indeed be interesting to see which OS prevails, but it would seem that in terms of applications that "organize the world's information" Google is way out in front. That is why I would not be surprised if Android phones take up even more of the global market by 2012 than the graphic here (click to see full size graphic from Gartner) suggests, on the shoulders of Google's information services.
Kamis, 18 Februari 2010
The Future of "Smartphone" Operating Systems
An article in the Joongang Daily today points to the obvious importance of operating systems in the rapidly changing "smart phone" market. As shown in the accompanying graphic, the iPhone and Android phones are expected to gain market share over the next several years, at the expense of Symbian, Blackberry and Windows Mobile. As the article notes, consumers are more and more likely to ask themselves, "Do I want an Android or a Windows Mobile?" rather than "Do I want a Samsung or Motorola?" This observation is partly true, but what is really going to drive consumer decisions in the next several years is not the OS per se, but rather the information that is accessible and the power of the applications allowed with that OS and how the OS interacts with the applications. To put it another way, if Google's array of online applications work equally well on an Android, iPhone or Symbian phone, then those three operating systems are going to share the market roughly equally. It is the underlying content and information, rather than the OS itself, that will determine the power of these new handheld devices. They are more than simply "smart phones," and they are also more than just a hand-held personal computer. They are information machines that draw heavily upon mobile access to broadband internet, global positioning data, and live visual information (as in augmented reality applications like the iPhone's INeedCoffee app here in Korea). It will indeed be interesting to see which OS prevails, but it would seem that in terms of applications that "organize the world's information" Google is way out in front. That is why I would not be surprised if Android phones take up even more of the global market by 2012 than the graphic here (click to see full size graphic from Gartner) suggests, on the shoulders of Google's information services.
Rabu, 17 Februari 2010
Multiple Screens: Digital Convergence Gathers Strength in Korea
Several articles in the newspapers this morning offer concrete evidence that the convergence of digital media in South Korea is strengthening and accelerating. According to The Korea Times, both KT and SK Broadband are doubling their investment in IPTV this year from last year. They also aim to double the number of IPTV subscribers this year, over the number in 2009.
Not surprisingly, The Korea Times report notes that IPTV is driving broadband usage and demand, particularly when it is bundled together with fixed line and mobile services. In fact, SK Broadband in partnership with SK Telecom will promote a "three screen (TV, PC and Mobile) package to smartphone and IPTV users. This reinforces a point made in my last post. With convergence people will sometimes use a handset, sometimes a tablet, and sometimes a desktop PC, but increasingly they want the same content available at the touch of a finger on all the devices.
Three screens by no means represents the limit, since another new consumer trend is that people are putting the new flat screen television sets in more rooms of the house than just the family room or entertainment room, at least in Western countries.
Not surprisingly, The Korea Times report notes that IPTV is driving broadband usage and demand, particularly when it is bundled together with fixed line and mobile services. In fact, SK Broadband in partnership with SK Telecom will promote a "three screen (TV, PC and Mobile) package to smartphone and IPTV users. This reinforces a point made in my last post. With convergence people will sometimes use a handset, sometimes a tablet, and sometimes a desktop PC, but increasingly they want the same content available at the touch of a finger on all the devices.
Three screens by no means represents the limit, since another new consumer trend is that people are putting the new flat screen television sets in more rooms of the house than just the family room or entertainment room, at least in Western countries.
Senin, 15 Februari 2010
Samsung Takes on Apple
One of my Google alerts this morning turned up an interesting short article in Forbes with the headline "Samsung Takes on Apple." The report noted that Samsung is hurriedly developing its own tablet computer to rival Apple's much-hyped iPad. The report quoted the President of Samsung's mobile communications division as saying "We will respond." Samsung reportedly has several major projects in the works, with the other major focus being to increase its dominance in the smart phone market.
I'll say! The current revolution in mobile communication is all about bringing mobile broadband internet to consumers, whether that be via a phone-sized device, or a notepad size device. People will use a hand held device differently than a note pad or notebook size device. However, in general I think it is safe to assume that most people would like to have the ability to fully synchronize information and applications across all of their devices. A notebook or even a small desktop machine is more comfortable while sitting at a desk, while a notepad device may be ideal while lecturing or conducting a tour, and the mobile-phone sized devices, of course, are the most mobile because of their size.
Samsung is right to take on Apple, because the latter company is so far leading the way in creating fast, easy and intuitive user interfaces for the mobile internet.
I'll say! The current revolution in mobile communication is all about bringing mobile broadband internet to consumers, whether that be via a phone-sized device, or a notepad size device. People will use a hand held device differently than a note pad or notebook size device. However, in general I think it is safe to assume that most people would like to have the ability to fully synchronize information and applications across all of their devices. A notebook or even a small desktop machine is more comfortable while sitting at a desk, while a notepad device may be ideal while lecturing or conducting a tour, and the mobile-phone sized devices, of course, are the most mobile because of their size.
Samsung is right to take on Apple, because the latter company is so far leading the way in creating fast, easy and intuitive user interfaces for the mobile internet.
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