Who Is Going To Win The Smartphone OS Race?

Cell phones have quited to be simple calling handsets when they succeeded to support additional, though simple applications. Later a conventional classification has been made by any of the users. It includes the following types of cell phones:

• cell phones supporting simple applications such as text messaging, picture messaging and mobile games
• handsets with music players and ability to download songs
• cell phones with network-assisted GPS navigation and local search
• handsets with biometric sensors that offer a secure alternative to credit cards.

Low-level OSs

Most of the manufacturers still use for their mobile handsets esoteric real-time operating systems (RTOS). Some of the well known manufacturers are Mentor Graphics' Nucleus and ENEA's OSE.

These OSs were meant for footprint devices. They were optimal for reliable phone operation, but proved insufficient ability to support complex applications.

High Level OSs

High-level operating systems (HLOS) are designed to run on the latest models of cell phones and smart phones. HLOSs such as Symbian OS, Windows Mobile and Linux are made to support complex and even 3rd party applications. They provide a great number of tools, and can inter-operate with desktop PCs and the Web. This is why a cell phone running on one of HLOSs is also called feature-rich handset.

The modern world tends to standardize cell phone high-level OSs which as a result will enable most of the users to benefit from sophisticated applications. Besides it will reduce time and cost for services, utilities, tools, etc. used with high-end handsets.

Software developers are among those who will benefit of standardization best of all. New models feature more processing speed and memory which means more software available.

The HLOSs race

The main competitors in the field are Symbian OS, Windows Mobile and Linux. Let's see what are the advantages of each of them:

• Symbian OS. What distinguishes this OS is the fact that it was designed specially for mobile devices. Now that Nokia owns about 50 %t of the company, Symbian will probably get through some changes. The fact that Symbian loses independence can influence its status of the leading smart phone OS supplier.
• Windows Mobile. Microsoft has a very interesting strategy in presenting its OS to cell phones. They announced Windows Mobile as a Microsoft's branded OS for enterprises and professional users. Windows Mobile assuring desktop compatibility.
  On the other hand Microsoft also presented Windows CE as an alternative option (available largely in source code format) that can be customized as well as branded by other companies.
  Following this strategy it is likely that Microsoft will gain control of the handset operating system.
• Soleus. Probably one of the least know among the above, but still gaining credits one (due to the fact that it has a Windows CE-based platform) is Soleus. The greatest advantage of Soleus is its ability to sync with Microsoft engine. It is a creation of Intrinsyc Software.
• Linux. This is an adapted to mobile environment OS. Initially it was developed for servers as an open source operating system. After an intense period of standardization Linux has gained trust and made significant inroads in Asian cell phone markets.

There are several other OSs to emerge to the market, which is an advantage and at the same time a challenge for handset users. Some important factors people would take into consideration upon buying a handset running a specific OS, is the flexibility of user interface and the ability to inter-operate with desktop PCs and the Web.