Battle for Mobile User Interface (MUI)

The current mobile sector is dominated by a fierce battle between OSs from the likes of Microsoft, Symbian, Linux, Opera and many others. Even if a significant evolution is under way, no vendor would be able to dominate the market. Microsoft will not be able to duplicate its success with Windows, in spite of taking a good portion of the market (about 30%). Linux and Symbian will contest its supremacy with respectively 27% and 22%. The main battle will be now shifted between user interface. UIs' main function is to act as an interface between the user and the OS. It can be very simple (just using icons, backgrounds, sounds) and can be adapted/branded to an operator, or more complex. Some UIs can make the mobile service/mobile application independent from the mobile OS (i.e. Flash Light from Macromedia), some don't (i.e. the Opera platform). What is sure, is that UIs will allow a much greater level of individualization on the mobile devices, attracting new players to challenge OS manufacturers positions. The UIs will become a very central part of the future mobile market.