Microsoft is not the only game in town
While this publication is primarily focused on the Windows Mobile platform, there are many competitors to this mobile operating system:
Apple iPhone
The Apple iPhone made an impressive splash in the marketplace that sent waves rippling throughout the industry. They took the simplicity of an iPod and added voice and data connectivity to it, and the result was a very clean and polished product. A lot of hype was associated with the launch and initial rapid adoption of the iPhone. It remains to be seen how far that momentum will carry it in overall market share.
The iPhone is powered by a slimmed-down version of Mac OS X. Unlike the full-blown version, however, the iPhone is currently locked to software from third-party developers. Apple recently announced that it is opening the platform up to third-party developers and is working on an SDK. However, it is likely that any new applications will require a secure digital signature from Apple. In other words, they will continue to control the development ecosystem.
In many ways, the iPhone does not directly compete with Windows Mobile. The iPhone is a single device platform running a proprietary operating system, while Windows Mobile runs on hundreds of devices with a variety of form factors, developed by dozens of manufacturers. The iPhone is designed to target a single type of user, while Windows Mobile allows manufacturers to develop handsets that target very specific types of users. One good effect the iPhone had was the buzz it created in overall awareness of the smartphone market. Consumers of all types are now more aware of it, and many will look to other more feature-rich and less expensive mobile devices.
RIM BlackBerry
Pioneering the first widespread implementation of wireless push e-mail, Research in Motion (RIM) set the standard for mobile data communications. Extremely popular with business users, RIM has helped shape our culture. Recently, RIM has been trying to break out of its mold as a business-focused handset maker, and has tried to develop devices that appeal to more mainstream users by creating better-looking hardware and adding support for music and photos.
The back-bone of RIM's messaging platform is the BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES), which integrates with an organization's e-mail system like Microsoft Exchange or Lotus Domino. BES acts as a relay system that monitors a specific user's inbox for new messages. When one arrives, it is routed to RIM's Network Operations Center (NOC), directed to the user's wireless carrier, and then "pushed" to the user's BlackBerry. Unlike the BlackBerry, Windows Mobile can now synchronize directly with Microsoft Exchange server with Direct Push technology, and does not require expensive licensing fees for BlackBerry Enterprise.
While third-parties are able to develop software for the BlackBerry, the proprietary platform is viewed by many as lacking robustness. As a result, there is not a very strong developer community. Many corporations still prefer the BlackBerry for out-of-the-box e-mail, but most of those same organizations use Windows Mobile-powered devices when developing and deploying custom mobile applications.
Symbian
Owned by Nokia, Ericsson, Sony Ericsson, Panasonic, Siemens AG, and Samsung, Symbian is a proprietary operating system designed specifically for mobile devices. It is based on Psion Software's EPOC platform, and although it has been rapidly losing market share to Microsoft and others, it is still the most widely adopted mobile operating system on the market.
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