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iOS, Symbian, Android, BB: OS that work for YOU!
US-based Get Ahead reader Rangaprabhu Parthasarthy takes a look at different operating systems available to Indian consumers of smartphones and explains what works best for whom.
I was tempted to call this post, choosing the right smartphone but in today's mobile phone business, it is all about the operating system that powers the smartphones.
There are excellent handsets options at the mid-end and high-end of any smartphone worth its salt. It is thus a more meaningful pursuit looking at the smartphone OS options available to the Indian consumer and what works for whom.
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iOS, Symbian, Android, BB: OS that work for YOU!
Nokia Symbian OS (Anna, Belle)
For over a billion users around the world, the Symbian OS has been the most favoured one. And the reason is not really the OS. Nokia has been building quality hardware for over a decade now and the OS has been an afterthought. And rightfully so.
For people who primarily use the phone to text, listen to FM radio and make voice calls the Symbian OS is easy to use. But for a smartphone, the OS doesn't deliver.
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iOS, Symbian, Android, BB: OS that work for YOU!
Starting with an outdated font (recently updated) to gawky widgets that were never designed for a touchscreen, Symbian is not the current or the next generation OS. And true to that statement, Nokia has moved all its key resources from Symbian to Windows Phone OS.
Unless the buyer is budget conscious, there is very little that is innovative and cool in Symbian anymore.
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iOS, Symbian, Android, BB: OS that work for YOU!
Blackberry powers a large number of business handset users throughout the world. Their two top offerings are an extremely secure e-mail service and the popular messaging service, BBM. Unfortunately, like Nokia, Blackberry has been one of the hardest hit by the touchscreen revolution.
Blackberry maker RIM has been losing customers to Apple iOS and Android every quarter and this will continue to accelerate.
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iOS, Symbian, Android, BB: OS that work for YOU!
Blackberry's touchscreen smartphone offerings are not as popular as the iPhone and other flagship Android devices. There is little indication that this will change anytime in the future.
Unless your business requires you to carry a Blackberry, there is little reason to buy one of these.
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iOS, Symbian, Android, BB: OS that work for YOU!
Microsoft Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango)
Microsoft is the most recent entrant in the highly competitive smartphone business. One can argue that they were there before Apple and Google. But the previous versions of Windows Mobile were not built for the touchscreen and as a result, saw Microsoft lose marketshare in that segment to iOS and Android.
The Redmond-based giant is back in the game with Windows Phone 7. This OS has garnered a lot of good reviews, especially after the Mango update but is yet to see a significant user uptick.
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iOS, Symbian, Android, BB: OS that work for YOU!
Part of the problem is lack of killer devices and part of it is lack of a significant number of popular apps. On the devices front, MS is hoping that their partnership with Nokia will result in some excellent and popular handsets.
On the apps front, they are working hard to get developers to build apps for their platform. For now, this is a promising OS. Until there are a significant number of devices available the world over with all the popular apps, especially ones focused on the Indian market, it is not yet the recommended choice.
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iOS, Symbian, Android, BB: OS that work for YOU!
Apple's iOS is the most popular OS in terms of mind share. The iPhone 4S is the most popular phone in the world today. While Android phones continue to outsell iPhones, in terms of a single device, the iPhone sells more than any other. Added to which is the premium quality of the device and the OS that makes it unique and so desirable.
The OS is an extremely well built one with new features being added on a yearly basis. The iOS was where the concept of apps started. No wonder it boasts some of the coolest and highest calibre of apps compared to any ecosystem.
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iOS, Symbian, Android, BB: OS that work for YOU!
There are only two real downsides to owning an iPhone in India. The first is the extremely high cost. The iPhone 4S is one of the most expensive smartphones in the Indian market. Secondly, the App Store while fantastic boasts of very few Indian apps. Most of the apps are for a western audience driven by the volume of customers in those countries.
So an iPhone 4S will make you an instant celebrity but you might be left wanting for apps focused on the Indian in you.
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iOS, Symbian, Android, BB: OS that work for YOU!
Android (Gingerbread, Icecream Sandwich)
That brings us to the last major smartphone OS Android. Android is now the most popular smartphone OS in the world thanks to the seemingly open nature of the OS. Anyone can make phones with it. Google continues to update the core OS with new features. And Samsung, HTC and Motorola are churning out premium devices on the platform. It would be unwise to argue and compare Android with iOS. To me, they are different experiences with pros and cons on both sides.
Android offers an endless array of apps, many of which are tailored for the Indian audience. With the exploding popularity of the platform and the endless new models being introduced across the world, apps are being added by the dozen everyday. Some of these apps offer a quality experience while others can only be termed amateurish.
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iOS, Symbian, Android, BB: OS that work for YOU!
But the key factor that drives adoption is the sheer volume of apps for every category of users. There are low end Android smartphones for less than Rs 5,000, mid-end ones that offer a good experience for an affordable cost and the flagship devices like Galaxy S II and HTC Evo that makes it reachable for a large audience.
Given all these options, you could choose a Blackberry for business reasons or a Windows Phone for your love of all things Nokia. Or you might be able to afford the latest iPhone 4S. But if you are looking for flexibility within your budget and a significant number of apps for the Indian audience, Android wins it hands down. And for all those reasons, I recommend an Android device, one that suits your needs and budget as the best smartphone OS for an Indian user.
Also Read: Get Ahead Gadgets and Gaming
Are you a gadget/gaming wizard/afficianado? Would you like to write on gadgets, gaming, the Internet, software technologies, OSs and the works for us? Send us a sample of your writing to gadgetsandgaming@rediffmail.com with the subject as 'I'm a tech wizard/afficianado' and we will get in touch with you.