06-25-2010, 05:53 PM
Most of my conjecture is based on Apple's business model. I think Apple's business model is good for Apple. By staying proprietary, they guarantee that no competitor can push them out with a slightly different version of the exact same product. For example, Motorola could be pushed out by another manufacturer making another phone using the same Android OS, just as IBM lost the desktop market to other PC manufacturers.
Apple doesn't have to worry about that type of competition because the only company making the iPhone is Apple.
They then rely on a strong marketing campaign to keep their proprietary stuff relevant and to keep the brand name fires stoked. They don't dominate markets, but they do well enough while their non-proprietary competitors come and go (what PC manufacturer, other than Apple, from the DOS 2.11 days is even still alive and still producing PCs? That's the strength of Apple's business model.)
So basically I don't think the iPhone will dominate in the long run because I don't think that's ever been Apple's game plan. They will take a small, long lasting proprietary market share rather than engage in a general shootout like Android device makers are going to be doing.
Apple doesn't have to worry about that type of competition because the only company making the iPhone is Apple.
They then rely on a strong marketing campaign to keep their proprietary stuff relevant and to keep the brand name fires stoked. They don't dominate markets, but they do well enough while their non-proprietary competitors come and go (what PC manufacturer, other than Apple, from the DOS 2.11 days is even still alive and still producing PCs? That's the strength of Apple's business model.)
So basically I don't think the iPhone will dominate in the long run because I don't think that's ever been Apple's game plan. They will take a small, long lasting proprietary market share rather than engage in a general shootout like Android device makers are going to be doing.