Smartphone Ecosystem (Part 8): Operating Systems – 2

The year 2009 has been the coming-out party for Android. There has been a lot of innovation as well as regular updates with exciting features. The scene at Microsoft, on the other hand, has been lackluster. Updates to Windows Mobile were incremental and more service updates than feature upgrades. Microsoft plans to change the situation by starting over on a clean slate with Windows Phone 7. This move is commendable and promises to make Microsoft’s product lean and agile.

With Android on a roll (HTC, Motorola, Samsung, LG, Sony-Ericsson, Acer, Dell, and Garmin all have Andriod-powered phones coming in the next few months), the fortunes of other OSs depend on the performance of the handset vendors that make or control them. The fate of Microsoft’s embedded OS, on the other hand, does not solely rest with Microsoft – it rides on the success of several handset vendors putting out hit phone models.