On closed platforms – we’re going backwards!
I was one of the first users of Microsoft’s MSN network which it believed was going to revolutionise communications. It joined the likes of Compuserve and AOL as closed communities (well sort of..) who thought they would be the global network everyone communicated through.
Of course, we’ve all seen what happened to closed services; they became portals of various kinds on the open Internet, but exactly how open is the Internet?
Apple is launching the iPad very soon after its very successful iPhone (which I ought to add I still don’t have because Vodafone have absolutely no interest in talking to its customers; I have been promised call backs three times and I’ve left a voicemail for our account manager who has never called me back. I guess spending tens of thousands of pounds with them means nothing), but not only have they sold it network locked from the beginning (only recently allowing any competition), they have also locked down the applications which can be run, enforcing their own morals on what kind of applications their users should be using. They are now continuing this with the iPad, and techies and everyone else alike is flocking to the iPhone. And yes, even I wanted one, even though one of my colleagues in particular has been trying to talk me into going with Android instead. It’s no different to the requirement to use iTunes for the iPod. I believe Microsoft is planning a similar strategy with its Windows Phone 7 OS.
This movement towards closed devices is precisely the wrong direction for the Internet to be taking and it encourages exclusive deals which prevent consumers from exercising their right to choose the best application. It’s a bit like Microsoft writing Windows in such a way that prevented you from installing any other browsers at all. It seems only Microsoft is in the spotlight of the regulators. I have been a great defender of Microsoft’s right to bundle IE with Windows because frankly, if your browser is better, it will be found. I don’t see it as Microsoft’s job to promote Chrome, Firefox, Opera or any other browser. I should of course add that I am a Chrome/Firefox user mainly but I made that choice willingly, and not because some regulator forced me to.
We need open platforms where the user gets to choose what software they run, and who they buy their services from, not large companies building their mini empires. By doing this, we force companies to innovate. People should be buying applications from the Apple App Store because it’s the best, not because it’s the only choice (without jail-breaking your iPhone). Apple are absolutely brilliant in designing hardware and operating systems. Why do they feel so threatened and weak they can’t compete with others on exactly the same basis?