Comments on: The paradox of Open: What can we learn about Open from Apple and Microsoft

By: Ajit Jaokar

Ajit Jaokar — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 19:50:33 +0000

Hello Terence, thanks for your comments. I meant to say that Apple is a closed platform. So, we agree there. Re Java etc (ie ecosystem preceding it) – I dont think it was commercially viable(with the exception Japan). So, what I am saying is – the (commercially viable) open ecosystem for third parties is critical kind rgds Ajit

By: Terence Eden

Terence Eden — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 08:50:11 +0000

HI,
Some interesting points.
I fail to see how iPhone is in any way open. The most generous thing that could be said is that their SDK is pretty nice and allows access to most of the phone’s features.
LiMo have a truly open platform which has sold more phones than Apple – but they haven’t done much to promote themselves (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LiMo_Foundation)
As ever, marketing wins out over fact.
While Apple’s ecosystem is good – it’s not very open. Look at the trouble people have getting apps approved. At least with Android, S60, J2ME, etc., anyone can write an app, host it anywhere, charge whatever they want for it.
The Apps & Games market has been doing incredibly well on an open platform & open ecosystem (J2ME). Apple have democratised the selling process to smaller developers and made lots of column inches about how many apps people have downloaded – but they’re still only a drop in the ocean.
As for Microsoft? The day they make something completely open will be the day they make bank vaults.
T
(NB: I work for Vodafone, but I don’t speak for them. I wasn’t involved in the Open Mobile event.)

By: Ajit Jaokar

Ajit Jaokar — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 07:20:08 +0000

Ian, good to see you. Pity we could not meet. I did not see you on the second day? I missed your session as well. lets touch base next time kind rgds Ajit

By: Ajit Jaokar

Ajit Jaokar — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 07:18:37 +0000

Hello Tsahi Thanks for your kind words. Yes, that was my impression as well kind rgds Ajit

By: Tsahi Levent-Levi

Tsahi Levent-Levi — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 06:39:04 +0000

I think you’ve hit the nail.
It’s not a matter of “open source”, but a matter of a workable and vibrant ecosystem.
Tsahi

By: Ian

Ian — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 22:46:03 +0000

In an Ecosystem everything has to live together. Taking that fact into the Mobile space the Networks still have to be able to make money. In the present situation they pay for the handset up front and hope to recover the cost from the use of teh device. In a world where over 80% of the revenue comes from Voice this was simple. In a new world it might not be so.
As a developer of an appication you have to understand that you need to pay in some form for the investment made by others. You need to be able to share revenue with the hardware developers and the network owners and maybe the content developers.
My take away from Open Mobile was that everyone was saying that the iPhone is not the answer as we are not making any money from the platform.