T-Mobile to launch open development platform to challenge iPhone

As reported on Moconews, T-Mobile USA is planning to launch an open development platform for all of its phone platforms from upcoming Android to Java to Sidekick and Windows Mobile.

From Moconews:

Starting this fall, T-Mobile USA will take the extraordinary step of ditching its traditional deck on the phone and replacing it with a platform that's open to almost any developer, multiple sources have told us. Think of *Apple's* App store, but for the entire carrier's handset line-up from smartphone to feature phone.

While this is an obvious attempt to compete with the iPhone App store it does a lot more to encourage ecosystems to be built around platforms that are not Apple.

With having gone open source, the mobile market is getting much more interesting. There are more possibilities to bypass the carriers stronghold.

[MacKirk]

This reminds me of the past five years of iPod development. Companies saw what Apple was doing and thought they could be successful just by following their strategy. But Apple has made themselves competitor proof. They have a superior and patented hardware platform, they have a hub for music, movies, podcasts AND phones in iTunes and they have OS X. I mean think about it. I think there's a chance one could build a superior phone, much less a chance at creating a portal as good and as widely used as iTunes and simply no chance at all of creating a superior OS.

For the past 5 years company after company has failed spectacularly in their question to copy Apple while using inferior tools. Zune is only the latest example. You can't beat Apple by copying them. You've got to leapfrog them and do something different and better. If they don't, expect history to repeat itself.

[techslut]

I agree with you, MacKirk. These other companies choose not to invent and innovate, but to clone and copy. Even RIM will be rolling out their own iPhone clone, the 'Blackberry Thunder'. It's funny watching these high market share companies chasing 'low market share' Apple!

[oemta]

Sure, no other company has had the ability to recreate the success of apple. However, that does not equate to apple products being superior, simply just more popular

[SeizeCTRL]

The only thing Apple did was make MP3 players with some shiny plastic and a bit of style oh and the click wheel. They stole the interface. So it's not like they innovated in that category. Apple steals a lot of things... remember Konfabulator? Same goes with Multi-touch. Heck, OSX is basically BSD with a pretty GUI. You guys can keep your DRM iTunes tracks... thanks but no thanks!

If Sprint gives me the option of slapping Android on my Instinct, I will do that in a heartbeat.

[freetibet99]

Apple have a head start 7 years head start on everyone, the iPhone is not just a phone, the reason apps are so easy to rollout is this is OS X on a phone, the Apple OS is so tight they can put a full copy on a phone. This is unbeatable, no other manufacturer has this kind of product. The iPhone is just one thing, apple have 10 yaers head start on M$ because M$ will ahve to ditch Vista and get a Unix operating system like apple did, they should have done this years ago.

So this is not about a phone as a rock solid OS built into every product, a business model that works and software that does what is say's it will.

[AppleSuxLeo]

Although OS never has gained much traction on the PC...It sure seems the way to go for smartphones.

[FrankyTech]

I would not underestimate Nokia. With Symbian going open source and the stability of their software, it is not an opponent to take lightly. In fact, one could argue it is the heavyweight.
However, it needs a change of clothes to dress up the operating system and to tweek its interface.
What is interesting is that Nokia Labs is currently beta testing push e-mail a la Blackberry (http://www.nokia.com/betalabs/email) while also being soon to release a Touch screen phone. If Nokia adds eye candy to its stable and most used operating system, while nurturing third party developers, it will stay the heavy weight. Looking at the interface of its push e-mail software, one cannot help but see promise that the giant can still dance.

[benjaminstraight]

This is the Ipod deal all over again. Let the market start competing.

[irisfailsafe]

well here is the thing. Apple has one Phone, one OS and control everything. T Mobile sells al kinds of phones that use different operating systems that work in different ways so is very hard to build an application that will run on everything.

I think this plan is more wishful thinking than a real plan

[Jack_and_Coke]

The mobile OS is one of the most overlooked aspects of a cellphone. In order to get a positive experience, there are some things you should look at.

[dustysage]

They aren't just competing with Apple, they also have the G-Phone coming up. But what isn't said is that developing an app for the iPhone is much easier than developing one which will work on dozens of different handsets. And as T-Mobile rolls out new phones and drops others, will developers continue to support older phones?

It will be VERY hard for T-Mobile to capture lightning in a bottle. However, this is a step forward for them - and an admission that the iPhone is making an impact on other carriers.

[gerrrg]

There is no "G-Phone". What's up with people continuing to misunderstand what Android is?