Mobile operating system

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

List of Mobile
Operating Systems
Symbian OS m n s
Windows Mobile m n
iPhone OS n
Palm OS n
Openmoko Linux l n
Access Linux Platform l n s
Qtopia l m n
Internet Tablet OS l n
BlackBerry OS m
Android l m
LiMo Platform l m n

l = Linux based
m = Managed code support
n = Native code permitted
s = Capability-based security
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A Mobile operating system, also known as a Mobile platform, or a Handheld operating system, is the operating system that controls a mobile device—similar in principle to an operating system such as Linux or Windows that controls a desktop computer. However, they are currently somewhat simpler, and deal more with the wireless versions of broadband and local connectivity, mobile multimedia formats, and different input methods.

The ongoing shift away from voice-intensive cellular technology to data-intensive mobile broadband is a significant issue for many large industries[1].

Contents

[edit] History

The shift away from cellular technology has triggered hectic competition among not only technology giants, like Microsoft,[2] Apple, and Nokia in a bid to capture the bigger market share pre-emptively. But also relatively young tech firms like Symbian seem to be in the lead pack of the market, particularly in smartphones and PDA phones.[3][4]

And in the growing niche of the market, Palm, Research In Motion and Ericsson are moving vigorously toward their own mobile platform objectives. As recently as in November 2007, Google formed a Linux-based open source alliance to make inroads into this mobile platform market, raising consumer awareness of the growing mobile platform frenzy.[5]

[edit] Issues and challenges

Open standards are gaining more ground across the spectrum of industris related, whereas proprietary mobile platforms, like Windows Mobile, are expanding their market share. Sir Tim Berners-Lee recently re-emphasized his advocacy for open mobile stsndards in his keynote speech at the first annual meeting of Mobile Internet World held in Boston in November 2007.He warned against a possibility that the Internet connections worldwide may turn into "walled gardens."[6] Google announced its Linux-based open source mobile platform, Android, along with the formation of the 34-member Open Handset Alliance.

Nonetheless, mobile web does not necessarily mean a horizontal and spatial shift from PC-based web, but a severe structural change to identify the missing links, inter alia, between the stationary web at home or in the office and mobile web on the go.

Top agenda items may include

1. Continued connectivity between home, cars and Base Stations like WiFi Hot Spots and Femtocell

2. Interoperability of equipment and applications, and adaptability to the ever-shifting mobile multimedia ecosystem

3. Behavioral tracking utilizing GPS data versus privacy concern

4. Real-time links between the wireless world and physical world

5. Financial transactions, including smartcards, SMS and Multimedia Messaging Service.

[edit] Market description

Mobile platforms are in the nascent stage, and any projection regarding the market growth is hard to make at the present time. It is noteworthy that Intel is taking the initiative to focus on portable devices other than mobile phones. They are Mobile Internet Devices (MID) and Ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC). Meantime, Palm abandoned its plan to develop Foleo, which was to be a companion device for a smartphone.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Ericsson Mobile Platforms
  2. ^ Windows Mobile
  3. ^ Symbian OS Symbian OS
  4. ^ Can Mac OS X succeed as a mobile platform?
  5. ^ Google Enters the Wireless World
  6. ^ Mobile Internet World