Opinionated comments on mobile phone industry news
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All entries are written by Anders Borg, CEO and Consultant of Abiro, that has a long experience in strategic planning, developing embedded and Java software, usability aspects, and the mobile phone industry in general. You can also read the latest Mobile News entries on your phone via wap.abiro.com, and we provide many News Feeds from popular news services. For advertising and contribution queries, please use the feedback form. News feed (local) FeedBurner Feed
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Friday, August 25, 2006
On over-the-air application downloads
This note describes how DoCoMo lost money by consumers updating the phone software so that they could use the phones for viewing OneSeg TV without a subscription. Not that I fully understand how users can get access to DoCoMo's (or any other) mobile network without a subscription.
OTA downloading of the phone system software was initially intended for enabling manufacturers to provide bug fixes, but the note also mentions how OTA downloads could be used to add completely new functionality.
In my opinion, such enhancements should be handled via Java or BREW w(when talking mass market phones). Adding completely new functionality by replacing the phone's system software is risky at best, and both Java ME and BREW were specifically designed for after-market applications. Also, third-party can create such software, while complete system builds can only be made by manufacturers, and possibly operators (yet unlikely).
Still, maybe more importantly from a revenue stand-point, manufacturers don't want this, as they want/need to sell new phones all the time. Without the constant phone swapping the mobile phone industry would collapse.
MEX - the strategy forum for mobile user experience - Industry moves in favour of embedded feature delivery
OTA downloading of the phone system software was initially intended for enabling manufacturers to provide bug fixes, but the note also mentions how OTA downloads could be used to add completely new functionality.
In my opinion, such enhancements should be handled via Java or BREW w(when talking mass market phones). Adding completely new functionality by replacing the phone's system software is risky at best, and both Java ME and BREW were specifically designed for after-market applications. Also, third-party can create such software, while complete system builds can only be made by manufacturers, and possibly operators (yet unlikely).
Still, maybe more importantly from a revenue stand-point, manufacturers don't want this, as they want/need to sell new phones all the time. Without the constant phone swapping the mobile phone industry would collapse.
MEX - the strategy forum for mobile user experience - Industry moves in favour of embedded feature delivery
