Why a three-partied world is so important

Recently we've seen to heat up of mobile operating system competition, involving big names from Google with Android as rising star, Apple iOS with certain fanatic users, and several other with smaller user base, such as RIM's Blackberry, Microsoft Windows Mobile and the blast from the past, Symbian. As market share for those smaller OS is (claimed) declining, perhaps we can say only two OS rule the mobile world now : Android and iOS. These two combined believed have market share up to 80% per 2011, is not a good situation for surround industry, such as wireless provider, application/game developer, and content provider. With big market share, they two can command the direction they wanted. Luckily they seems not get along well, but if they do, mobile world could be theirs with other only supporting role. 

In the past, we've seen  how Zuge Liang with his intelligent insisted a world (although that time only China) with three main ruler. And seems the setting could balanced the ambition and power to rule over other country. And then during cold war, there's initiative to setup new forces to balance it. 

And in Indonesian history, there a three-partied policy proven lasted 3 decades, although it crashed as it actually only one dominant player.

Now, in mobile world, the third player still vacant. No one could claim it now, because of their user base is not significant compared to the two ruler. It's not only Operating system matters, but ecosystem. How surrounding industry supports and user willing to give it a try at the new challenger. In my opinion, the surrounding industry must involve to ensure the third-ecosystem could grow as the other two

For challenger ecosystem, I hope they can, finally, found a way how to synergy and team up as an important third-ecosystem to balance the mobile world. And for kick start, maybe you can create universal messaging system across platform to "steal" some user.

Update : Found this video shows how "tripoly" instead of duopoly :)

Mobile Platform war

Global economy is slowing down, but tech company and consortium seems not going to slow down their research for next generation mobile device platform.

Mobile platform is not as simple as just OS. But it more to whole system how it interact with user, security, how it connect to any protocol and service.

The platform leads market now is Symbian. Motored by Nokia with its S60, now symbian devices can be found also on other brand, like LG and Samsung. With a very user friendly interface and consume low processing power, this platform is most available on most middle class handset now.

Windows Mobile is emerging from WinCE, now become a mature platform that adopted by some high end smartphone brand, like HTC, O2, DOPOD, some Samsung Pda phone and now Sony Ericsson on its Xperia X1. Backed by user using Windows on their PC, the creator expect user will find it easier to enjoy Windows Mobile.

There are proprietary system develop by each manufacturer, but since maintained by single vendor only, no much application for download and improvement we can expect. But as it implemented on most lower-end handset, these platform still have big portion in the market. Apple Iphone, in my opinion, is in this category also, as it single vendor maintain and very-closed system.

The latest but feared to be next leader, is Google's architech Android. Android believed will be the next generation platform since it design and created based on latest mobile and internet technology. Still some years to come before this platform is widely available on market, especially when economy crisis strike like now.