Google bought over Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion. This was a bid to protect its Android operating system and win over patents from Motorola, which Google lacked. This prompted questions on Microsoft’s buying of Nokia, after both companies collaborated for the Windows 7 mobile phone, based on Microsoft’s Windows 7 OS. Apple which works on the iOS system, may now also fell the heat, with this recent development, although it is still safely the number one player in the smartphones market today.
A few years ago, smart phones were all about the BlackBerry, and gradually other models like HTC came out with their own OS like Sense. However, in the last one year, Android has achieved popularity to become the most popular OS.
This can be linked to the number of smartphones which work on the OS – including Samsung, which recently saw sales of its Galaxy Tablet that works on the Android OS, shoot pass Nokia and Apple. The Android has also become popular due to the huge number of apps that it offers, competing with Apple. Best of all, these apps can be downloaded for free, while after a point, Apple charges for apps from its app store. Android apps can also be used on a large number of devices, unlike Apple apps, which can only be used on Apple products.
In terms of price points as well, Androids are cheaper than Apple iPhones or iPads, and are offered at even further competitive markets like Asia, which has seen a sudden boom in smartphone usage in the last one year. The Android platform also has wide OEM support, which could probably see it becoming the number one choice in smartphones in times to come.
While recent developments may be looked at Google trying to once again monopolize its control over information systems, by getting into every arena of communication – be it web-browsing, ISP, cloud-computing, social networking websites and mobile OS manufacturer, Google’s CEO Larry Page, says Google is not interested in becoming a handset vendor or a full-scale mobile operator. Still, the information giant’s growing power and acquisitions are a reason of genuine concern for competitors.
The question that comes to mind is whether Apple will now do something to one-up Google, which could be in the form of upgrades to its OS or line of products, or following Google’s lead of acquiring companies that may prove competition to it in the long run. Apple is already locked in several patent infringement wars, and with the rising popularity of the Android, it may seek partners to rule out its insecurity.
Another worldly event to watch out for is a competitor to Facebook – by Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg’s sister, Randi Zuckerberg, who is working on her own social networking site, after honing years of experience at Facebook. If the world’s most popular social networking site decides to expand its horizons and venture into building special feature exclusive to a particular OS, or if Randi Zuckerberg ties up with Google, things could get quite heated in the now raging Android versus iOS war.
By Beryl M
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