Mobile Operating System

With the increase in features available on mobile devices to mirror that of a desktop or laptop, these popular devices require their own operating system (OS) to manage their resources.

Mobile OS is a general term that refers to the operating systems on mobile devices, such as Android and Apple iOS. The mobile OS is comparable to the standard OS that runs on desktop or laptop computers but is small and robust in order to be able to handle issues specific to mobile devices.

The increasing usage and demand for mobile devices has stimulated innovation and strong competition in this domain. In earlier days, the most popular mobile OS, used in all Nokia phones, was Symbian . Symbian was also present in various models of Sony Ericsson, Motorola, Samsung, and other cell phones, and particularly in data-enabled devices. Data-enabled devices allow various data applications, such as email, web browser and word processing applications, to run on your phone apart from normal voice communications.

The market has exploded and the rave is all about smartphones. As companies are pushing mobile commerce as a new business strategy; users are requesting more services to be available and accessible through their smartphones. It is hard to say whether user demand is driving the increase in mobile services for smartphones or vice-versa, a typical chicken-or-egg scenario. Regardless, the mobile industry has grown significantly to meet the needs of consumers.

Microsoft , the world leader in computer OS, was one of the first to enter the market with Windows Mobile OS for mobile phone users. Windows Mobile OS gives a Windows-like feel when using mobile devices and makes navigation and accessing applications feel similar to desktops. Almost all smart phones are enabled with some mobile OS. Several other mobile OS have been introduced, such as RIM which is exclusively for Blackberry, Apple iOS and Google Android. While these names are big players, they are a portion of the actual market where there are a dozen or so different OS and a few variants of each.

The popularity of smart phones coupled with a greater demand to do more while on the go gave rise to the tablet PC. The tablet PC is a portable computer that is larger than a cell phone, smaller than a laptop and has many of the features of a desktop computer. The tabletPC runs a similar OS as its desktop counterpart with tweaks for additional forms of input such as touchscreen and stylus input. As tablet popularity grows, companies such as Apple and Blackberry are further developing an OS specifically for tablet PCs.

The mobile OS manages files and memory interaction with other devices. It has various built-in applications, including web browsers, email clients, apps, video, photo and audio capabilities, to name a few. The mobile OS has transformed mobile devices into small computers, with a wide array of features and, with the continued advances in mobile devices and their operating systems, some people say one day they may make standard desktop computers obsolete and redefine the standards of personal computers.