Could a new os realistically topple one or both of the big 2?

Could they even live alongside them?

Remember when everyone had different phones that were pretty much completely different?

You had
Nokia
Samsung
Motorola
Sony
Ericsson
Siemens
They all were different and we're a talking point down the pub. Do you think a new os could take the big 2 on?

It would require such a large IP licensing base that only a very big company could afford to buy the rights and if they are not already in the market then its probably too late.

Yes, it could be done. Would need to be pretty special though and from a big mobile/os brand,

For all we know, the new boss of what's left of Nokia could announce a holographic OS that shines out of a watch and is as functional as Windows 7.

People abandon smartphones and laptops in their droves, Apple struggles to survive and a new lease of life for Nokia is born.

The business technology world can be so unpredictable.

I'd actually like Nokia to become a major force again, they have released some of my all time favourite phones. The Nokia n95
Being my all time favourite

Never say never. Apple are abusing their position, and Android although good has its bad points. Windows mobile is just carp IMO.

I would love to see another really good mobile OS come out!

What, like Tizen?

The killer feature of a new OS would be total lockdown security with protection both from the prying eyes of the OS supplier and from third parties.

Yes. No.

I would love to see a third major OS disrupt the market but at present I can't see where it would come from. Windows Mobile I think is still a very niche sector even if they are taking it seriously now can't see them becoming a strong third contender.

Blackberry OS is basically dead and is not likely to recover. Mozilla OS is still very limited and can't see them becoming a major thing either.

The big problem a third OS would need overcome is convincing app developers to code for there new OS no new entrants are going succeed against iOS and android without that strong app support,

Perhaps sometime in the future, but for now the Android/iOS duopoly is holding strong.

I think it will take a change in the landscape i.e. a new form of mainstream mobile technology to cause a real shake up in the current market.

Google and Apple have all the relationships with developers and near total domination. Amazon has access to cloud systems and their own successful ecosystem, but even they hit a brick wall and their Fire Phone literally crashed and burned.

Microsoft seems to have abandoned Windows Phone and is trying to push for a "Windows" that fits on all devices. With the "Continuum" feature they recently showed off, it could be interesting to see how the public receives it.

The key with Android is that it is adaptable to many situations, it can exist on washing machines, cars, home entertainment systems etc. I suspect it will be around long into the future.

Gods no my washing machine is hard enough program as it is without a complete OS on it.

Unfortunately it's the way mobile OS platforms are evolving. The trend is leading towards the OS "following you" in key environments i.e. car, home, work etc.

We're not far off being able to do things like remotely operating home appliances, heating, lights etc. In fact some of this may already be possible.

Which is a shame. I moved to Blackerberry O/S in the summer and find it much better than Android as it seems quicker and more secure with more options for security and app permissions and with it's ability to run Android apps from Amazon and the Google Play Store as well as Blackberry's own apps I found it better than my old Sony Z3 Compact.

I went for the Blackberry Leap as I dislike the square phones with physical keyboard and the only thing against it really is the spec (needs a faster CPU and better camera) - personally I wish Blackberry would bring out a Leap with the same screen size and specs as a Sony Z5 Compact, even if it cost a couple of hundred quid more than the Leap it'd still be under £400 SIM free.

The Blackberry desktop software is also superb and the best I've used in years (and pisses over Samsung, Sony and Appples desktop software).


Amazon were their own worst enemy with the Fire phone as it wasn't a bad device and would likely have been a lot more popular if Amazon hadn't stupidly made it a network exclusive with O2 and allowed the google play store on it - I'd have bought one if it had been available SIM free and unlocked out of the box.

Yeah and imagine having a fragmented OS like Android on it with it's snazzy Hotpoint or Beko or Candy skin... Arrrrggghhhhh!!!!
My washing machine will have iOS like my neighbours so they are all the same and I know how to fix it.
Hold down power and home probably!!!!
Hahahahahaha

Just think, by 2020 we'll be making HD voice calls and playing Crossy Road on our washing machines.
This is the future!!!

By the way, what carrier update is your toaster currently running?

where did you come up with that Microsoft has abandoned Windows Mobile?

Well "Windows Mobile" hasn't existed since 2010.

My post does say that they've abandoned the "phone" distinction and are trying to push for one Windows across all devices.

People want everything NOW. The situation is different from when Android was starting, majority is not ready to wait till things get better. That's what broke Windows Phone's neck. Now MS is happy to deliver their services to mobile users regardless of the OS. So any new OS will have to provide apps, the best making Google Play apps compatible. But then if there's not more to it why switch at all.

Currently we have iOS, Google Android and then a large number of skews of Android based on AOSP including Flyme OS, MIUI, Fire OS and Cyanogen OS. Companies who put COS on their devices do get the Google approved but there is nothing stopping a company using COS with the Microsoft suite of apps and never going near Play services. So the biggest threat to Android is probably Android. W10M is basically dead as a mass market OS and the only other player in the foreseeable future is Tizen and this would need a massive push from Samsung to gain traction.

iOS is going nowhere by the way.

The next version is called Windows 10 Mobile.

So actually, Microsoft have previously abandoned Windows CE, Windows Mobile, and Windows Phone (two versions).

My experience suggests that Windows Mobile runs FAR better than Android on low-spec devices (say sub £100). If it could gain a good market share in this area it might be able to expand upwards.

I think the next step for Microsoft would be to develop a way for users to install Windows 10 on top of Android, essentially replacing the OS.

If Windows 10 is better than Lollipop/Marshmallow I think it stands a good chance of catching on, especially if the conversion software is pre-installed in a Windows 10 desktop update.

They are working on an opposite direction, to run Android apps on W10M.

Honestly W10 is just not viable as a consumer product. The store is full of fake scam apps and the ones that are there are of poor quality. I may well pick up a L640XL to play with but the days are gone where I could use one as a main device. They may be a niche player with business. It doesn't matter how good the OS is (BB10 is a great OS) it matters how good the ecosystem is. If Microsoft want to try and gain some traction they should fork Android, although putting all the apps out for the 2 big platforms is a good strategy as well.

i think apple and android came along at the right time with touch screens and the idea of apps becoming the norm. For a new OS to break into the market now it will need them to almost start off with a huge amount of available apps from the start id imagine but it would be chicken and egg syndrome. Why create apps for an OS that doesnt sell and the OS wont sell without the apps. Seems to be the issue WIndows is having.