Symbian Foundation Vs. Open Handset Alliance
Written by Jamie Hunter • Jun 30th, 2008 • Category: Developer News, Editorials And Opinion, Google News, Open Handset Alliance News, Recent News, Related News, Software NewsI found an article on ZDNet.co.uk that does a great job of outlining the differences between Google’s OHA and Symbian’s Foundation. The article breaks down who the members of each alliance are, and even points out which organizations are a member of both. Could this pose a conflict of interest, or is it just good business to be in both camps? You can read the complete article here.
I see no reason why the two companies can’t co-exist, but given Nokia’s world wide handset marketshare I would have to give the initial advantage to them.
Unlike Google, Nokia already has handsets developed, and I don’t see a need for major overhauls to the current Symbian OS. The Symbian Foundation should result in a flood of software that hopefully finds it way to the market faster than in the past due to its newly opened platform model. In the past the process for independent developers to gain a license to develop for the Symbian platform was an effort in futility.
However, in the end I give Google’s Android a better chance of “sticking” here in the US than I do the Symbian OS. There are very few S60 handsets available in the USA today, and I don’t see that changing just because the platform is now open. In the US it’s been more of a hardware issue as to why Nokia’s S60 devices haven’t found a home or audience here. The user interface doesn’t come across as the most accessible of the bunch either when compared to Windows Mobile and Blackberry devices. Having sold all three to consumers the simple task of changing a ring tone was more difficult for them on the Nokia devices than any of the others. To be sure, Nokia has had a hard time competing against the likes of HTC and Blackberry in the smartphone arena in the US.
One thing is certain. All of those rumors about Nokia warming up to Android were just that. Rumors. It seems Nokia has drawn a line in the sand, and the chances of them endorsing Android for their handsets is slim and none. Right?
Jamie Hunter is a self professed gadget geek. You can often find him playing with a new mobile device.
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i met some nokia folks at google IO. they told me explicitly that Nokia will NOT support android. they are working on their mobile ecosystem OVI and android is a direct competitor
For all their Scandinavian “nice guy” image, Nokia is totally in the pocket of the carriers, they’re just better at hiding it than most handset makers. Nokia willingly lets the carriers hack up and close Symbian, and Nokia just sits there as says “Ok, just promise to buy a million handsets next quarter.”
I judge Nokia guilty of collusion with the carriers with the intent to rob us Consumers blind and will have no sympathy for them when Android knocks them off of their number one spot.
Todd, what makes you think that other phone manufacturers are any different?
Moto ( handset division ) is basically insolvent, kissing the carrier’s ass won’t save them, so they’re in a good place. HTC, from what I have read, refuses to sign their life away to any carrier. And, obviously, Sean Moss-Pultz and everyone at OpenMoko have no ties to any carrier at all. I know for a fact that Texas Instruments is chomping at the bit to build and sell handsets, MIDs and yet to be defined devices, all running Android, directly to Consumers.
There’s four. Need more?
Todd,
Correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t Google also telling the carriers and handset makers that they can customize Android as they please. In other words, make it as open or closed as they like?
Although the base Android platform is open, the licensing agreement on which it is sold allows the carriers and handset makers to customize it as they please, with no conditions to be open or share their customizations with others.
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Yes, the carriers can change Android, but here’s the catch - we Consumers can remove any changes they make. HA!
Obviously this is the reason AT&T and Verizon refuse to participate in the OHA. Here’s the [ boring ] details:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apache_license#Licensing_conditions