Study suggests Android handset makers outlook bleak..
 

There's an interesting article on guardian.co.uk about a study that suggests that Android adopters will struggle to maintain margins in the future, drawing parallels with the 'Wintel' PC market.

Although there are flaws in the study -

• more OS' about in the smartphone market than the Desktop PC (at the time)
• the concept of mobile carriers
• more cpu mfrs in the smartphone game

it still makes a good read. Oh and there's a couple of decent comments.

Maybe Nokia do know what they are doing in trying to retain their own identity.

Re: Study suggests Android handset makers outlook bleak..
 

I've always said that. When you only supply hardware and rely on others for software you're placing your whole business on someone else's longevity and success. Nokia have always had the right idea by being the pioneers over followers; Samsung and Motorola only popped back into the market through Android and there's no real discernible difference between any of them. They lose their brand identity and it becomes a game of who has the best implementaton of Android.

Re: Study suggests Android handset makers outlook bleak..
 

Well in the long run it becomes "who has the best implementation of MeeGo" instead, so the better question is what can they do to prevent themselves from becoming commoditized, which at least in the US only benefits the carriers.

The answer, of course, is branding of their devices, stores, and services. This is likely to be a bigger reason Android will face pressure from the handset vendors themselves (and hopefully the carriers too) as it essentially puts all of that in Google's court instead of their own. MeeGo (or indeed, any open source effort not wholly owned by one vendor) fills the platform niche nicely, putting Google out of the picture.

Now we just sit back and watch what happens, and hope that us end-users don't end up as collateral damage :/

Re: Study suggests Android handset makers outlook bleak..
 

I'm not so sure. This idea of commoditizing handsets seems somewhat myopic considering that there are many different proven streams for revenue, possible even whilst sharing a common platform; for example: the distribution of content (eg. iTunes), tight integration with complimentary devices (eg. DLNA/Samsung home automation), ad revenue, different app stores, etc.

I'd say that forward thinking companies can remain competitive without much differentiation, so long as they use their moblie offerings as an 'in' to continue to sell to consumers, rather than relying on the devices themselves as the sole generator of profits. This may be related to the 'free razor' marketing scheme if/when it comes to that.

The Archos' of the world may find themselves fighting over scraps.

Re: Study suggests Android handset makers outlook bleak..
 

All of which Google (and Microsoft!) is gunning for, and vendors are hesitant to share with Google. They might not get rid of Android completely, but once they have an option they may move the high end, high profile devices away. Word has it Samsung is already planning something not MeeGo, but open source in a similar fashion (existing package manager, heavy upstream dependence and cooperation.) Still screwed on graphics drivers though :(

Archos probably will, especially if vendors like Samsung and Nokia move into the non-cellular, PMP/PDA/Tablet space.

Re: Study suggests Android handset makers outlook bleak..
 

This is good for us the end users. It means better prices :)

Re: Study suggests Android handset makers outlook bleak..
 

And more, much more choices.

Re: Study suggests Android handset makers outlook bleak..
 

"When banks compete, you win." - from LendingTree.com

bunanson