The mobile phone industry is one that is full of interesting stories. The manufacturers are held together by the operating software to a degree. If your software is less than perfect your users will complain and potentially move to another phone. I am at the moment in that stage as I keep getting reminded of the mistake I made when I got my current mobile phone. So with a few months left before the upgrade users do an information gathering process.
You look at the phone and the operating software (iOS, BlackBerry, Android, WebOs and Microsoft) and then consider your options. At the moment the Android platform seems to be gaining on the Apple iOS dominance. The applications for them look superb. However my fear with Android at the moment is, the fragmentation that is being seen in the Android environment. This is the one major bonus that Apple has over all of their rivals. The operating software is the same between the iPod touch, iPhone and iPad. I have heard from multiple Android owners that they wish their software will be updated to the newest version. As soon as this is done I expect the competition between Apple and Google will become intense.
Microsoft, I believe are in a bad position with their mobile software. The Windows Phone 7 software has yet to be seen in phones (hopefully by end of the year, if Steve Ballmer has spoken the truth). The Windows Mobile software that is currently on multiple devices is anything but a competitor to Android and iOs. The software needs to be reinstalled at least once if you are lucky; it can run down your battery at a rate of knots and is not very user friendly.
So have you decided yet what your next upgrade is going to be?
