Running the iPhone OS on other mobile phones? Unlikely
John Fortt at Business 2.0 has written a long article on why Apple should license the software and technology behind the iPhone platform. His ultimate argument seems to be that if Apple don't allow other manufacturers to utilise the system in their own phones, they'll struggle to achieve market share, and could well be trumped by another mobile operating system that is available for all to use.
Will it ever happen? It's highly unlikely.
Apple have never licensed their computer operating system (OS X), and an iPhone, like the iPod, is even more about the hardware than a computer is.
Whilst the strategy of holding on to an idea may not always work (Apple computers have a low market share), it works brilliantly at other times (iPod, iTunes). And let's not kid ourselves that Apple are the only people launching proprietary systems in either the mobile or general consumer electronics world. Plenty of companies are itching to tie you in to their particular system.
Fortt thinks Apple has 3-5 years to decide if it will license the platform or remain a niche player.
We may all be get a shock, but I don't think Apple are likely to change their habits, particularly with the huge buzz surrounding the iPhone.
Let's face it, the buzz is about "the iPhone", not simply the features that make it up. The brand itself is as much a factor as its innovative features.
Stick the technology on a Nokia, a Samsung, or an LG, and it's no longer an iPhone: Apple lose control of their hardware and consumers are faced with an array of similar handsets of varying quality. And for Apple, I always have the feeling that deep down it's about more than just the money - it's about amazing products that are 100% Apple - and no-one else.
Related stories:
- Apple iPhone is all about innovation, not invention
- Apple iPhone: Top 5 features
- The Top 10 potential iPhone rivals
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