Technology

The real cost of the iPhone closed platform

By now you’re no doubt familiar with Apple’s closed OS X platform available on the iPhone, which prevents third-party software from being created for the device. In fact, he may be encouraged by the fact that the device will offer future software titles through the easy-to-use iTunes stores. However, he may also not realize that Apple is closing the door in terms of a varied and diverse software landscape for his tech favorite.

Apple is dealing a serious blow to the mobile software industry as a whole. By promoting software as a hardware feature, the company could perpetuate the assumption that software is no longer a separate entity from a mobile device, leaving consumers with the perception that hardware manufacturers are the only providers of titles. High quality and compatible. It almost takes you back to the old days of Mac vs. Windows.

While Mac vs. Windows on the PC platform was partially relieved when Apple allowed MS Office titles and windows to run concurrently with OS X, there is no foreseeable end in sight for Apple’s buildup of software development rights. In today’s Wall Street Journal, Apple CEO Steve Jobs stated that “the iPhone is the most sophisticated software platform ever created for a mobile device.” He adding: “We think software features will be where the action will be for years to come.”

This “action” will no doubt mean more revenue for Apple and less choice for consumers. Did I also mention something called Microsoft Exchange? Because without it, you won’t be able to perform work tasks effectively alongside the Microsoft-based software your office probably runs on. And as for your people-only emails and phone calls, good luck getting your IT department to let you use IMAP for sensitive company emails.

The true cost of Apple’s closed platform won’t be immediately apparent. In fact, it may not have an immediate impact. However, the mobile software industry will suffer a significant setback if Apple is able to shift consumer perceptions toward thinking that software is an exclusive component of the hardware it runs on. When in reality mobile software is, and should be, its own entity separate from any particular line of product or hardware.

If this is allowed to happen, the diversity and number of software titles available will slowly diminish until once again, just like in the early Mac and Windows wars, we are tied to a single, specific set of apps on a device-by-device basis. to be bought If I remember correctly, the Mac was on the short end of the stick in terms of apps and software in those days. And while Apple’s forecast of 10 million units sold sounds like a lot, it’s still just a fraction of the mobile device market with Blackberry and Windows Mobile smartphones, both eclipsing Apple’s sales target several times over. Therefore, Apple will have to create some very strong applications to compete with the thousands of developers around the world working to create software for the Windows Mobile platform.

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