Most of this argument is null IMHO.

What we are all talking about is almost akin to limiting software or format proprietary, which has killed many good devices over the last 30 years. Sony shot themselves in the balls with the minidisc and this kind of closed thinking is almost exactly the same thing.

What really needs to be the focus (again, only my opinion) is a variety of quality handsets assembled from quality materials which are seen as computers rather than a 'nokia phone' and 'apple/iphone' an 'android phone' or a 'HTC phone'.

I would have serious hesitations purchasing a device in the near future which does not allow me to choose if I would like to run MeeGO, Android, Windowsphone7 or all 3 and provide a reasonable amount of storage space to do so.

And I am not talking about having to hack and slash at the thing and wait months for community developer projects, I am talking out of the box support for whatever operating system you would like to install, just like on any PC.

Trying to limit competition through the use of heavy marketing and a 2 year captive audience cycle is so counter productive it isn't even funny.

Why are we so prepared to accept the free market and embrace competition on the surface, but so afraid to let the power of these forces work towards better outcomes for all users?

Clarification: Mobile manufacturers need to concentrate on producing the BEST HARDWARE in all regards from look and feel to raw power, battery life, input/output quality and longevity whilst leaving hardware and software documentation completely accessible to both in house and homebrew/ commercial developers.

I know there are problems with DRM content and people getting paid with this sort of model but I would rather see these issues addressed directly than watch another doomed push by nokia still barking up a 10 year old business model tree. In my opinion they are still one of the best mobile manufacturers in the world as far as hardware quality and input/output quality goes, but for ****s sake get it together with the delivery.