Classic Micro Systems

The mobile handset market is hot and increasingly becoming a part of the IT consultant's range of "expected" knowledge. There are too many combinations of products to be fully conversant with every aspect, but we do run into many common issues. We'll cover many common topics here, both technical and functional, on several popular smartphones.

• Blackberry - Though less favorable in polls and forecasts in the last year or so due to popular products like iPhone, the Blackberry still dominates the business environment. Probably 75% of our business customers use these. If your primary purpose is fast and secure email, the Blackberry is still the platform of choice. Current software version 5 and expected updates to 6 soon.
• iPhone 3 or 4 - The most popular "consumer" phone over the past several years, we see very few of these in business. The most notable features include an interface most users love, along with nice styling and that huge "app" store. Though due to tight Apple control over the app market, many applications are duplicates. Also, many complaints about the AT&T network seem to dog the iPhone.
• Android - The Google-developed Android operating system is the latest up-and-coming smartphone platform, available not from just one vendor, but from a host of handset makers including HTC, Motorola, Samsung, etc. The EVO, Droid, Incredible, MyTouch 3g Slide, Droid X, and Galaxy S are popular current or upcoming handsets. Since Androids are available on all popular carriers including AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, you can pick you device and price more readily - not locked to AT&T like iPhone! The Android app market is expanding exponentially and we believe will catch Apple in the next year or so. Still largely a "consumer" phone, it's strength of varied products can also be a weakness as there are variations and less consistency of features. Beginning with version 2.2, devices will be able to support tethering and wifi hotspot natively!
• Windows 7 Mobile - Expected later in 2010, may be a factor but late to the game with Windows 6.x mobile not having a great reputation.
• Palm - The excellent Treo products of years past are quickly fading and the failed Pre and Palm Web OS which was their hope to generate new product sales was acquired by HP who will try to resurrect this, perhaps into a tablet.