The iPhone and Android platforms have validated a number of things; below is a list with some of such things:

iPhone:

  • Applications are at the center of next generation of handsets.
  • That software, not hardware, is the main driver and differentiator.
  • Touch-screens rock! Everyone knew it, but Apple showed the world how.
  • The mobile web is important, that there is no One Web, and that handset-specific customized mobile websites will continue to be built.
  • That influencing the network provider and changing their game-field is possible.
  • While the mobile web is great, today richer and more integrated applications need to be native.
  • That users will download native applications, if a better way to discover and download applications is provided (i.e. App Stores)
  • That closed systems is a sucky idea.

Android:

  • That mobile-handsets can be based on open source and Linux, and be successful.
  • Integration with services on the web (i.e. application infrastructures) matters a whole lot and is huge; and that this is especially true if such is provided “out of box”.
  • Keyboards rock, but a software keyboard should also be provided.
  • It is going to be a hell of a challenge for handset manufacturers that use Android to differentiate themselves; how will they if the software is the same? UI? Hardware designs?
  • That open systems is a great idea.
  • It re-validated points already validated by the iPhone: applications (and developers) are key to success, that it is about the software, the mobile web is important, that richer and more integrated apps need to be native, that users will download native app if a better way to discover and download is provided (app stores)
  • That 3G can be impractical as it sucks-up your battery dry.

Other:

  • That developers will develop in whatever programming language is necessary, even if it is Objective-C.
  • Fragmentation? Who cares!

Anything else?

ceo