Eventually, a solution for developing AJAX based applications on mobile devices has been proposed. This opens up huge opportunities and could have tremendous impact on the mobile telecommunications landscape.
Customer control is moving
Mobile Network Operators and Device Manufacturers were dominant players on the market.
- MNOs own a network and propose services that are tightly linked to the network (Voice, MMS, WAP connections, SMS) - they can somehow influence the development of User Interfaces and customize the applications available on the device.
- Device manufacturers have larger customer bases than most MNOs. Customers are sensible to their brands. They have a large control over the development of user interfaces.
Newcomers are defining new customer touchpoints:
- Dedicated applications: EBay for its auctions, Google for its Google Maps service, Apple with its iTunes software
- Customer specific offers: MVNOs develop themselves focusing on dedicated customer segments (Hip hop fans, People who want to quit smoking, etc)
AJAX and LINUX will sustain the development of new ecosystems
Currently, Windows Mobile and Symbian are the most adopted OS for smartphones. Linux adoption is growing however.
WIth the development of new AJAX based applications, relying on Opera, device manufacturer will have to align and to implement Linux and Opera (or equivalent) on their devices. Customers will consider their phone as an entrypoint to a new ecosystem, with free or payable applications. Data connection could eventually become a commodity if netaork providers fail to provide dedicated QoS for these applications.
More articles on Opera and its new browser here:
http://www.mobhappy.com/2005/11/welcome_our_new.html
http://feeds.feedburner.com/I-modestrategy?m=336
Previous post on AJAX:
Ajax implies changes in user interfaces
More on Ajax - Google's path to the OS
AJAX is so clean...
