Well whether we like it or not closed platforms are the future and there nothing we can do about it. Well I can't make that prediction but so far it looks like it. The only thing we can do to prevent the rise of closed platforms is adopt open platforms but I doubt the consumer cares. Walled gardens aren't good but people don't realize it almost every new platform coming out is now closed. Sure Android has been successful but how long will that last it has been criticized for not being "consumer friendly" so how long will the openness of Android lasts how long till Google closes there platform. Windows Mobile used to be one of the most open platforms ever now with Windows Phone 7 Microsoft has closed there platform and made it more restrictive than the iPhone! So we either need to convince consumers not to buy products or learn to accept closed platforms. Also Symbian was never really open we all remember running Helo0X2 on Symbian to bypass "Symbian Signed" in reality Nokia phones aren't that open either.