Let's Not Repeat the Desktop Platform War on Mobile Devices

You can't watch TV for very long nowadays without realizing that the computer world is divided by a platform war. It's only a matter of time before you see either an Apple or a Microsoft commercial trying to convince you that their system is better. In actuality, the products they are offering are nearly identical when you really come down to it. They are both selling personal computing platforms that run on the same microprocessor, support nearly the same hardware, and that 80% of users will simply use to launch a web browser to get to their web mail. The point is, they draw a line in the sand, and ask consumers to pick a side. It's all pretty stupid when you think about it.

Of course, I'm a Linux user, and don't like either one of the commercial friendly desktop choices, so I tend to be a bit smug towards these ads. The problem I really see with these ads is that we have a schism in the personal computer world that causes massive issues of compatibility and interoperability, and it makes life difficult for anyone involved in tech. If you are an admin, you have to learn to do the same thing in two or more different ways, on two or more different platforms. If you are a developer, you have to either decide which platform to develop for, or figure out how to develop your solutions in a cross-platform way. If you are a consumer, you have to weigh the immediate pros and cons of each system, as well as predicting its future potential. All in all, it's difficult and annoying.

We are now entering a new era of computing, in which the personal computer no longer sits on your desk at home, nor does it get slung over your shoulder and taken to coffee shops. The new personal computer sits in your pocket and doubles as a cell phone. This new method of computing is still young and impressionable, and we can take advantage of the mistakes we've (hopefully) learned from the past. What I'm saying is that now is the time to ensure a single standard platform for cell phones and mobile devices.

This idea is not new, nor is it very creative. In fact, it's more along the lines of "obvious". Who wants to deal with the availability of specific apps being the deciding factor of which hardware company gets your business, and which mobile network you are forced to use? What developer wants to place bets on which phone will outsell the others when they sit down to invest their time and money into the next killer app? Nobody wants to deal with it, and we are at a point now where we still have the ability to make this dark future never occur.

So what are the options? Here's my simplistic breakdown:

iPhone
This is a closed-source custom software platform written by a single company for hardware only they provide. On top of being very secretive about the future of the platform, all thrid party apps that run on this device must be approved by Apple, and they have the ability to "kill switch" any app, approved or not, at any given time. The chance of this becoming an open standard that any manufacturer can use is slim to none, even if we actually wanted it. My personal opinion is that you have to be a little bit dumb to spend money on this device.

OpenMoko
Oh, how I wish this would become the standard. A free and open Linux-based platform written not to compete with some other company, but to be a liberator for consumers. This platform is both commercially developed and consumer developed, and strives to be the most open mobile computing platform there is. Freedom is the idea, but this phone platform has fallen prey to support problems on various networks, vendor uneasiness towards open source, and limited supply of the hardware that actually runs it. It breaks my heart to say it, but I don't think this will be our standard anytime soon.

Google Android
Now here is a real possibility. The so-called "Google Phone" was developed as a competitor for Apple's iPhone, but not for a single device. In fact, Google does not even make the phone, T-Mobile does, it just uses Google's OS. Android is Linux-based, and is destined to be released for a number of different phone models. The only issue is how many phone manufacturers and network providers are going to use it. Hopefully, with Google backing it, Android can be your platform of choice regardless of which provider you decide is for you. Although Android is somewhat of a personal compromise to me, I think it is the best option. It has the corporate backing, it has the community support, it was not just designed for a single device, and it is already well-known by the public.

Hopefully, we will all someday be able to purchase a smart phone without having to worry if my favorite app is available on it, but until then, keep supporting open standards and the personal freedom that comes hand in hand with having a choice.