Mobile Operating Systems and Applications
Julie R. Mariga · The Internet Encyclopedia · 2004
Abstract Mobile computing technologies are having an enormous impact on both companies and individuals. Companies have to face many issues related to mobile computing. Mobile computing, defined as a generalization of all mobile computing devices including personal digital assistants (PDAs, e.g., Palm Pilots, Pocket PCs), smart phones, and other wireless communication devices, will change dramatically in the next 2 to 5 years. Several factors remain to be determined, including which devices will best fulfill business objectives, which operating systems will these devices run, what other devices will they support, and what costs and security issues will be involved in their use. This chapter provides an in‐depth analysis of the three top platforms that are currently running the majority of mobile devices: (a) the Palm, (b) Microsoft Windows CE, and (c) Symbian operating systems. The chapter analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of each platform and review market share and future growth, concluding with a discussion of mobile applications.