Since the release of the iPhone, many telecom analysts are already looking down the road to the next shakeup of the industry.
Many believe that this will come from the development of “open source” phones.
As it currently stands in the U.S., a consumer signs up with a wireless carrier, and the carrier offers the consumer a few cell phones to choose from.
These phones are pre-loaded with locked-down, proprietary technology for a handful of activities – text messaging, voice mail, camera, contact lists, and web surfing.
However, there is a revolution brewing on the horizon for cell phones.
It is quite possible that looking back, people will refer to the past decade as the "Age of Personalization" in the consumer goods arena.
The next generation of cell phones is based entirely on this principle.
Much as you can now buy a PC & install whatever operating system, web browser, email/contacts list manager, etc. that you want, new cell phones will have the same ability.
In some ways, this is more of a logical next step instead of a revolution.
Personalization of cell phones has already been occurring in the form of downloaded ring tones – a business that has become extremely lucrative.
But the impact that a completely personalizable cell phone will have on major wireless carriers and cell phone manufactures is going to be profound – so profound that they are sure to place obstacles in the way of widespread acceptance of the open source phone, much as the music and film industries have dug their heels in in the wake of digital distribution.
However, if open source phone manufacturers have their way, in coming years cell phone customers may be able to buy these phones either directly through network providers or as stand alone devices that may be registered with network providers.
If open source phones get traction, the market for mobile applications will likely explode.
With everything from Skype and instant messaging for wifi phones to an app that let’s you use your phone as a guitar tuner, the open source phone may just be so popular that nothing can stop it from taking over.
Below are a couple of examples of these phones:
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