Smart Wars – The Rise Of The Ecosystem

By Author: Jennifer Lewis
Total Articles: 304
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When a user invests in technology, what is the most important factor that governs the decision? It’s style? It’s horsepower? It’s popularity? It’s durability? Well, the answer is probably too individualistic to generalize. However, if you ask a different question, what the user’s decision should be governed by, the answer is simple – the ecosystem that supports the technology.

Ask yourself, would you buy a car if the only service center in a 100-mile radius is 40 miles away from your home? Well, you may buy it, but you will soon realize your mistake. Similarly, if you have to wait 60 days for the replacement remote for your TV because it needs to be imported, I’m sure you would not thank the manufacturer for the calories you burned going from your couch to the TV. Mobile technology is no different.

User’s Perspective – Ecosystem of support & options

1. Accessories – A proud owner the elusive Nexus 4 soon starts feeling frustrated because no Best Buy, Staples, Fry’s, Walmart, or even the mobile kiosk in the big mall carries a cover for his baby. Bereft from instant gratification, ...
... but keen to protect their shiny little friend, the non-device-nudists need to spend time online looking for the suitable clothing for it. This is a great example of how ecosystem governs satisfaction in users.

2. Apps – A smart device without apps is like a gun without bullets. Now if the gun manufacturer told you that there was a serious shortage of ammo for it, you would be wiser to invest in a more aesthetic showpiece. Apps are what bring out the smartness of the smart devices. Without a good ecosystem of apps is a critical factor that users need to consider before jumping in. iOS and Android have done a great job at this. Windows mobile is struggling with it, while RIM is a classic example of the failure to build this ecosystem, and its consequences.

3. Warranty, service and spares – Unfortunately, technology fails, we have all experienced it. From crashed PCs to fried external HDDs to software glitches, the idiosyncrasies of technologies are not always helpful. And mostly, these failures follow Murphy’s Law, and happen at the time we least want them to happen. When these inevitable calamities strike, you need to be sure that the help is at hand. The manufacturer warranty, service network, and spares availability is very crucial towards this, especially for users who travel internationally.
A great example of this is the 2 corporations in a state of war right now – Apple and Samsung. While all iPhones across the globe are the same device, Samsung has different models and configurations for its devices like flagship Galaxy SII, which has 21 different models. While you can get your iPhone repaired under its international warranty from any authorized local dealer, the S2 has to be shipped back to its country of origin for repairs. This is highly inconvenient, and an issue that users do not realize till disaster strikes.

Enterprise perspective – Ecosystem of customers

In addition to the above-mentioned factors, enterprises looking to go mobile have some additional points they need to consider.

1. Stability – Enterprises invest into platforms for the long haul. It is a strategic decision, not a tactical one. Therefore, it is important to buy into platforms that have a history of stability and good technical support. Going after experimental new platforms without an established sodality can be disastrous for customer and employee satisfaction.

2. Vertical relevance – While omnipresent, smart devices of different types find relevance in different verticals. Enterprises need to look at the customer-base for their target platform for relevance.

The verdict is clear, an established community of developers, support staff, technicians, and customers is extremely important for the success of a mobile platform.

The author is associate with a reliable mobile application development companies in Noida. The enterprise application development Dallas firm that it offers an affordable app development solutions so that more businesses are able to embed mobility in their work process.