I will not make an exhaustive market analysis here, but will share some thoughts. The mobile device market is changing rapidly during the last few years. One reason is the entrance of the new major players – iPhone and Andorid. They forced the old players like Nokia, Sony Erricson , RIM, Microsoft and everybody else to hurry up and catch the train. Apple gave us the new fresh air, which the mobile business needed for years. The old dinosaurs chasing low-risk profits forgot about the main engine of the current technological business – the innovation!
Apple was the one to make them remember that innovation (both technological and business) is not a dirty word and actually may increase profits. Yes the innovation and risk go hand in hand, but that’s way : ideas, passion, commitment and risk.

The following chart provides information about the preferences of the users to some of the current mobile platforms:

The chart is to gave the overall tendency. And the tendency is we do not have a major player and it is still important to target multiple mobile platforms with a single code base. I must say that the figures here are showing the end-user preferences. The preferences of the business user are quite different, because besides the fancy UI and the improved user experience there are may other factor considered by the businesses like robustness, security, development experience, management, integration to existing infrastructure and others.

The ability to target multiple mobile platforms is dependent on the organization skillset and the corresponding platforms development tools. The following table contains a brief comparison between some of the major players in terms of development tools and technologies:

By RUSLAN TRIFONOV’S

Mobile apps have been around for some time and there is a lot of hype around the developing market. But how sustainable is this development, and where does it lead? In summary, our analysis shows that apps will eventually be as important for companies as web pages are today.

The main drivers:

What are the reasons for this optimistic view? Here are just six reasons why we think that apps will become as important as Websites to companies in the next years:

1. Ubiquity of smartphones: Smartphones will increasingly replace feature phones in stores. Nearly everyone will be able to use smartphone apps, not just – as of now – business people, social networkers and gamers. The main driver will be a reduction in handset prices, which will decrease to 100 Euro for most starter devices.

2. Manifoldness of possibilities: Smartphones are small computers which are becoming more and more powerful. They will be suitable for an increasing number of tasks which have previously been restricted to laptops or desktops. Today smartphone apps are used by companies to promote their brand or product, or to provide access to their existing products. In the future we will see a lot more use-cases, e.g. new products enabled by apps, mobile health, mobile selling, or apps which help to improve working efficiency within a company.

3. Ubiquity of app stores: For the foreseeable future, Smartphones will always depend on the app stores. If you have a smartphone or advanced feature phone you will have easy and convenient access to the world of apps.

4. Unmatched user-experience: Apps offer a user-experience which mobile Websites or widgets are unable to provide.

5. Proximity to customers: Mobile devices, especially Smartphones, are much more personal and intimate devices than a laptop or desktop device. For most users their phones are never further than 1 meter away 24/7. Imagine how attractive it is for consumer goods, food, and myriad other companies across the economy to be able to place their products and services so close to consumers.

6. Better visibility: Although there is a lot of clamor about the discoverability of apps, especially in the Apple App Store, standing out among 140,000 apps is much easier than being found amongst millions of websites. In addition, these distribution platforms are stores, and unlike the web or its search engines, they are designed to sell and present products. Cross-selling and promotions are components of their core features. The new geneneration of app stores make it easier than ever before to be in the forefront of millions of potential customers’ minds.

Although there is still a long way to go before many companies learn how to benefit from and how to engage in this exciting new market, but it won’t take long before it becomes standard business practice, especially for media, consumer goods, automotive, and food companies to communicate with their customers via an app. This applies especially to the Western and Asian countries with high smartphone shipment rates but will also impact emerging markets with a short time-delay.

The iPad went on sale in the U.S. on April 3. Apple has already delayed the international launch of the device, saying sales in the U.S. were unexpectedly strong.

Apple has sold 1 million of its new iPad tablet computers in the month after its launch, meaning it’s been selling more than twice as fast as the iPhone did when it was new.

Apple said it reached the milestone on Friday, April 29^th, when the new 3G model of the iPad was delivered to its first buyers. That model can access AT&T’s cellular broadband network. The first models had only Wi-Fi access.

Word of the second delay didn’t faze Apple investors, who are eager to see signs the iPad is selling well. Apple shares rose 1.3 per cent in pre-market trading.

Here is my two sense :

HP/Palm can win but only if the can actually manage three things :

1) Manage to really be hip and cool. There is space there I believe cause Apple is, BB manages mail best.. Android is still looking for itself and WindowsMobile isn’t.

2) Succeed in really getting app developers to actually develop on their OS. The two are obviously linked. Palm had in the past a huge developer following. So they need to get those guys and others to develop again.

3) Do something that Apple refuses to do and Android does too much of.. being OPEN. Driving the OS but allowing for cool things to happen by people with cool ideas.

I think that there is still a space out there for Palm/HP… Lets watch and see.

In case you didn’t hear, we just announced a merger with a little shop down the street called HP. That little shop happens to be the world’s largest technology company, and certainly one of the most revered companies in all of tech-land. Can you say “webOS acceleration”? We’re pretty excited, and pleased we surprised the world again.

This is on the blog of Palm… it is obvious that they fill a bit giddy. It is true that it is a pretty darn good scenario considering whom they are up against. It will definitely be interesting to see if HP can really do something with this.

Jon Rubinstein the CEO will remain with the company – but it’s not clear whether Palm as a brand will remain intact just yet – to say nothing of the rest of Palm’s team and infrastructure. For webOS fans, the good news is that this isn’t just a purchase for talent and patents, HP intends to continue on with webOS.

Press release : ALTO and SUNNYVALE, Calif., April 28, 2010

HP and Palm, Inc. (NASDAQ: PALM) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which HP will purchase Palm, a provider of smartphones powered by the Palm webOS mobile operating system, at a price of $5.70 per share of Palm common stock in cash or an enterprise value of approximately $1.2 billion. The transaction has been approved by the HP and Palm boards of directors.

The combination of HP’s global scale and financial strength with Palm’s unparalleled webOS platform will enhance HP’s ability to participate more aggressively in the fast-growing, highly profitable smartphone and connected mobile device markets. Palm’s unique webOS will allow HP to take advantage of features such as true multitasking and always up-to-date information sharing across applications.

“Palm’s innovative operating system provides an ideal platform to expand HP’s mobility strategy and create a unique HP experience spanning multiple mobile connected devices,” said Todd Bradley, executive vice president, Personal Systems Group, HP. “And, Palm possesses significant IP assets and has a highly skilled team. The smartphone market is large, profitable and rapidly growing, and companies that can provide an integrated device and experience command a higher share. Advances in mobility are offering significant opportunities, and HP intends to be a leader in this market.”

“We’re thrilled by HP’s vote of confidence in Palm’s technological leadership, which delivered Palm webOS and iconic products such as the Palm Pre. HP’s longstanding culture of innovation, scale and global operating resources make it the perfect partner to rapidly accelerate the growth of webOS,” said Jon Rubinstein, chairman and chief executive officer, Palm. ”We look forward to working with HP to continue to deliver industry-leading mobile experiences to our customers and business partners.”

Under the terms of the merger agreement, Palm stockholders will receive $5.70 in cash for each share of Palm common stock that they hold at the closing of the merger. The merger consideration takes into account the updated guidance and other financial information being released by Palm this afternoon. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of domestic and foreign regulatory approvals and the approval of Palm’s stockholders. The transaction is expected to close during HP’s third fiscal quarter ending July 31, 2010.

Palm’s current chairman and CEO, Jon Rubinstein, is expected to remain with the company.

India is now on a par with China and only the second nation in the world to achieve half a billion mobile phone subscribers – with nearly 15 million new customers being added every month.

Officials say that overall “tele-density” in the country has reached 43.5% – or 509 million subscribers.

But some areas such tiny remote north-eastern Indian state of Mizoram has now more than half the population is now using a mobile telephone.

The Mizoram state economic survey in January 2010 indicated there were 561,917 mobile phone users in the state – which has a population of about one million people – and the figures might have gone up since then. The survey said that Mizoram’s mobile phone users currently pay a total monthly bill of 50 million rupees ($1m).

All Indian mobile networks are doing roaring business in the state, where the government is the biggest employer.

Airtel is the largest network in Mizoram, with 192,000 subscribers in January 2010, followed by BSNL, Aircel, and Vodafone.

Officials say that the figures are remarkable because the state is one of the most remote in India and private industry is practically non-existent.

This seems to be the model that is replicated not only across India but also in Africa.

What does this mean for us in the mobile industry ? Basically that these people who often don’t have internet connections are going to be hungry for content. Not necessarily premium content for sure but they will want the same sort of services as others have world wide namely : search, social and info.

This represents a huge opportunity and also challenge for the present web and mobile players to offer to these new entrants what they want and to monetize all of this.. To be watched therefore.

Research in Motion is reportedly close to releasing a new operating system for its BlackBerry line of smartphones. A new BlackBerry OS 6.0 could correct some user complaints and help RIM catch up with its rivals, including Apple’s iPhone and Android-powered devices. Analysts expect a better BlackBerry browser and home-page tweaks.

Research In Motion may not be ahead of the curve, but it’s taking some bold steps with a new operating system  for its popular BlackBerry smartphones. The Canadian phone maker is close to releasing version 6.0 of its BlackBerry OS, published reports say.

The current OS has drawn complaints from BlackBerry users that RIM hopes to correct. The new OS is also expected to let RIM better compete with rivals, including the Apple iPhone and Google’s Android operating system.

“While the BlackBerry OS has enabled users to do what they want — e-mail, browse, social networking, apps, etc. — the experience has left a stale taste in their mouths,” said Ramon Llamas, an IDC analyst. “Most people don’t like the user interface, navigation and overall feel to it.”

Bold Changes Expected

“Meanwhile, other operating systems have gotten major tune-ups (Palm’s webOS), are about to hit with something completely different (Windows Phone 7 Series), or came out of the gate swinging (Android),” Llamas added. “What these all have in common is an experience that is at once seamless and intuitive.”

RIM would not provide any details on the new operating system. “RIM’s policy is to decline comment on rumors or speculation,” said spokesperson Rachel Colley.

Analysts expect RIM to release an OS with a better browser, since the existing one leaves much to be desired. RIM’s acquisition of TorchMobile last year and Co-CEO Mike Lazardis’ comments at the Mobile World Congress led to expectations of an improved browsing experience.

“Right now, the current browser available, if it is the one that comes with the device, leaves much to be desired,” Llamas said. “It is hard to view, type into, and navigate around. And since TorchMobile is WebKit-based, I’m expecting to see something much smoother. My sense is that for a very good browser experience, it has to be touchscreen-enabled.”

Another major tweak needed on the existing BlackBerry OS is its home page. While the iPhone, Android devices, and the upcoming Windows Phone 7 Series devices let users easily see applications on the home page or with a swipe of the touchscreen, the BlackBerry OS forces owners to dig through various menus and applications to find what they need.

More Devices to Come

Changes to the notifications and e-mail features are also expected. The changes may include a snippet of information on the home page notifying the user of what has arrived, and from whom. “RIM has a strong history in messaging, so I expect some improvements over what we’ve gotten used to over the past couple of years,” Llamas said.

It’s not clear whether existing BlackBerry owners will be able to use the BlackBerry over-the-air software loading service to update the operating system, or if the new OS will be included on new phones only.

Reports, however, indicate that the new OS will depend on a touchscreen interface. Currently, only RIM’s Storm and Storm2 have touchscreen capabilities. Other popular BlackBerrys, including the Pearl, Curve and Bold models, use a trackball or track pad.

“Should touchscreen capability be a necessary condition for BlackBerry OS 6.0, expect to see a lot of touchscreen-capable devices moving forward,” Llamas said.

The changes may prove essential to RIM, which has historically had trouble promoting touchscreen interfaces for its smartphones.