With BYOD Transforming the Workplace, It Isn’t Easy to Pick any one Ecosystem as the Best!

Which mobile ecosystem is best for consumers?

 see Apple's mobile ecosystem as being made up of 3 components, App Store, iTunes music and movies store, and communication between Apple devices, including iCloud. The first two components are, at this point in time, the most compelling for a user. Apps are still the most innovative that offer the best experience on iOS. But this is not something Apple can take for granted any more. Innovation is just about beginning to wear thin, not just on the OS itself, but also in apps. There is much duplication and little guidance on what to pick up. For example, take a look at Pinterest related apps. A big selection appears and you will not know which offers features over and above the official app. Reviews and ratings are not always there. Also, while the apps are more secure than on Android, there are problems that escape Apple's scrutiny. I have noticed an app appear under different developers' names -though a handful of names are circulated. Also some developers release the same app with slightly different names. Getting baited by this sort of trend can increase the cost of ownership of an Apple device, other than putting an user at risk as a victim of whatever reason the developer has for duplicating apps. The lack of customizability and flexibility, poor multitasking and some issues that never seem to get better (e.g text input) and are reducing the attractiveness of Apple's iOS ecosystem for users. 

Android has come a long way and is compelling because of the customizability it offers for users, and Google's interesting services and updates. Today, my phone can look fabulous on-screen compared with other devices because each screen is filled with what I have put there. Not only so, I can shape the behavior of my device with third party apps. (e.g Tasker). But security still remains an issue and there are still rogue apps and poor quality ones. What's more, these can affect the functioning of your device. Despite Android being the most common OS the world over now, it's still best for tech savvy users who know how to control it and use it. Less savvy users will still use the device but perhaps not be able to move beyond the basics. The Android ecosystem however is slowly but surely gaining ground and in my opinion is a reason  to opt for devices that are now designed as Apple's. BlackBerry's mobile ecosystem as we all know, has just re-emerged and may or may not find traction with users. BBM users and enterprise users will have moved on or just about hung on to old devices and it remains to be seen whether they take to the new ecosystem -on new devices. The BlackBerry 10 ecosystem has a certain ease of use as far as the OS and interface go but the BlackBerry World still lacks the most desired apps and has quite a number of poorly optimized ones which are not without their costs. And so, it remains an ecosystem for users to whom communication is all. Windows 8 is a good mobile ecosystem for those who don't demand too much from their devices. It's for people who want their office applications and a few other apps to play with but not much more. It's still to be seen whether the Windows 8 ecosystem works the way Microsoft wants it to -across all devices, wherever the user is and whatever he wants it to do. 

Which is the best mobile ecosystem for enterprises?

With BYOD having transformed the workplace, it isn't easy to pick any one ecosystem as being the best. All offer some customization to IT departments so they can get the device to work with their own applications securely. BlackBerry has been strong in this area because of its solid security and hold on email, but is going through its troubles. Microsoft is strong because of its applications and the fact that 92% of the world uses Windows but is currently in a place where migration to Windows 8 and new licensing processes need to settle down. Apple's ecosystem is getting increasingly enterprise friendly as well. Android has the advantage of being able to be shaped and adapted to different requirements -but to me no one is best at the present time.

Which mobile ecosystem is best for developers?

Serious app developers would probably head for iOS as it helps them build a brand, create cleanly with fixed parameters, and earn on the app steadily, specially through in-app purchases. Users trust the Apple App Store. Android however is one of the easiest to get into and play around with. But the struggle with fragmentation is well known. Windows 8 and BlackBerry 10 have just taken off and are desperate for apps, unfortunately sometimes focusing on quantity rather than quality. Both will offer incentives, training and tools and do everything to make it easier for developers to buy in to their ecosystem and believe in it. Both do a better job of pulling in local apps than iOS does. These are impressions, not data. While both ecosystems offer a learning ground, developers will want to be assured of long term success. Their better bet on these ecosystems

may be productivity.