Open Source Tidal Wave of Apps Overturn Downturn, Says Juniper

os chart bigjuniprOpensource.jpgpen Source Operating System Research
from Juniper Research found that operating systems and applications are playing an
increasingly important role in the differentiation of new smartphones
and a key factor in the choice of which handset choice by users.  They predict Smartphones shipped with open source operating systems
(OS) will increase from 106 million this year to 223 million by 2014

The last three years has seen a revolution in the OS market with
market leader Symbian moving to open source and Apple leading the way
in the distribution of applications through their innovative, but now
widely copied, AppStore approach. The move to open-source OS has also
encouraged developers to design new and attractive applications and
with over 60% of the OS market is now based on open-source, and a
sizeable pool of software design talent out there, there is a massive
opportunity for innovation.

However, the real key is not whether the OS is open-source but
whether it's easy for a developer to design an application and make
money from that effort. The combined changes of Apple's open route to
the market and LiMo, OHA and Symbian's open-source OS approach have
generated a tidal wave-like effect which even the economic downturn has
been unable to reverse.

There is a clear warning for device manufacturers - the choice of OS
is now critical and market share will, to a large extent, follow
application development. The unexpected side effect however will be a
shift in the balance of power towards application developers and end
users - they will begin to play the tune!

Open Source OS Whitepaper
and further details of the study, 'Mobile Open Source Operating
Systems: Markets & Opportunities 2009-2014' can be freely
downloaded from the Juniper Research website.