Re: weapons in setting a global standard ?


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Posted by Tore on June 14, 1999 at 07:12:20:

In Reply to: weapons in setting a global standard ? posted by Trine on June 07, 1999 at 21:22:59:

: In the fight about setting the standard
: for the operating systems for the Wireless Internet,
: does anybody know exactly what kind of weapons Micro-
: soft, Symbian and Palm use in that race ?

Hello Trine, this was a tricky question.

If you are interested in what weapons microsoft use, I think the best source is the ongoing trial; states vs Microsoft

Generally, different ways of partnering and alliances is being used more an more now, both for winning the fight for the operating system, but also for other fights
When Microsoft launched Windows CE, I think it was three years ago, at Comdex, the launch was being done together with 50 hardware manufacturers.
Microsoft has an ongoing relationship with a number of manufacturers, and that relationship is being widened by adding the handheld operating system to the portfolio.
In that context, the name handheld PC, which is Microsofts name for the handheld computer, fits well into the existing architecture.

A couple of years ago, Microsoft tried to implement the same business logic in the wireless arena.
Microsoft saw an opportunity, and/or a threat, from the wireless vendors, turning the wireless terminal into an media device, and they were rigt.
We then saw Bill Gates visiting the nordic countries, shaking hands with the CEO of Ericsson and Nokia, smiling.
One of the results of that was MC12 and MC16 from Ericsson (a windows CE terminal bundlerd with a phone).

In the center of this events, Psion was losing market share. After a year with lower and lower stockprices, a contact was created between Psion and Ericsson/Nokia.
Then Symbian was launched. Later Motoroloa joined the Symbian Team, and now lately, Matsushita (Panasonic) joined.
By launching Symbian, Microsoft was proveked, and a short time later, Microsoft launched wirelessknowledge together with Qualcom.
Even though Symbian and Microsoft are still fighting for the operating system, Microsoft joined the WAP forum in May.
Coopetition is another word for the weapons used today; compete in some areas, cooperate in some other.

Then we have 3Com with its Palm. 3Com has not obeyed the standard rules of the game.
Until lateley Palm had a very closed value chain.
3Com controls the operating system
3Com produces the unit (but have just opened for licensing of the operating system)
3Com has created their own protocol for information servcies
3Com has a gateway that you have to use to access their information services using their technology
So 3Com is controlling most of the value chain internally, playing a different game than the others.
The only areas that is open for external entities is software and content, and now lately licensing the operating system.

I hope this gave you a nice overview.
You could also write the article: Colliding worlds: http://www.mobic.com/news/9903/colliding_worlds.htm

I am curious why you ask this question. Are you doing any research?


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