Should there be one computer ecosystem?
In this article, I will consider if there should be one ecosystem in computing. A single ecosystem would have advantages, but it also has potential issues that could slow the innovation of new technology and applications.
The advantages of having one computer ecosystem
One of the most significant issues in computing currently is the friction between different platforms, which impacts many of us. An excellent example is the problem of handling messages between Apple mobile phones and mobile phones made by other manufacturers, such as Samsung, running the Android operating system.
Apple iPhones use the iMessage protocol, which Apple developed. In contrast, phones running the Android operating system use the open RCS standard. Apple has so far refused to support the use of RCS to send messages between Apple and Android phones. They are forcing users of both platforms to use the older SMS and MMS standard, which impacts users of both platforms. Google has tried to shame Apple regarding the lack of RCS support.
The downsides of one computer ecosystems
Spotify has raised concerns in the media about Apple charges after refusing to sell Audiobooks on the Apple iOS Spotify app due to Apple taking a 30% share of the sale price. As stated in a CNN article, Apple also sells Audiobooks.
Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers gave an alternative way to see the Apple charges in her summing up of the legal case between Epic and Apple regarding Fortnite, that Apple purchase fee was a legitimate way for Apple to collect the licencing fee for its intellectual property.
The biggest downside of having one technology ecosystem would likely be innovation, as competition between entities, be they countries or companies, drives innovation. Would we have walked on the moon if there had not been a space race between the US and the USSR, driven by the Cold War?
Conclusion
The solution isn’t to have one ecosystem but to ensure ecosystem transparency. Governments must intervene when the big technology companies are not acting in our best interests.
We need to ensure that platforms interoperate. One user needs to be able to communicate with users on all platforms in the same way. Suppose Apple refuses to use an open communication standard between Apple iPhones and Android phones. In that case, it should be ordered to do so or face heavy rolling fines until it complies with the legislation.
The users of their products should have the final say on what technology hardware and software they want to use.
Suppose I want to access the Bing chatbot via the Firefox browser on my computer running Windows 11. In that case, I should be able to do so.
You can find out more about technology ecosystems in this article.
