In an attempt to break the technological duopoly of Google, Apple, and their smartphone operating systems viz. Android and iOS, the Narendra Modi government is planning to develop a policy that will facilitate an ecosystem for the industry to create an indigenous operating system.
Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar took note of the hegemony of the two American tech companies and stated, “There is no third one. Therefore, in a lot of ways there is tremendous interest in MeitY and in the Government of India to even create a new handset operating system. We are talking to people. We are looking at a policy for that,”
An Operating system is the soul of a smartphone that seamlessly weaves the hardware and software of the phone into one. Speaking about growing an Indian brand, the minister further added, “If there is some real capability then we will be very much interested in developing that area because that will create an alternative to iOS and Android which then an Indian brand can grow,”
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The dictatorial power of Google, Apple
Earlier, there used to be Nokia, BlackBerry, Windows Phone, and Palm OS. However, with time and the domination of Apple and Google, these OS have practically become extinct.
Recently, UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in a report remarked that the “effective duopoly” iOS and Android ecosystems present a “vice-like grip” resulting in a lack of customer choice and higher prices than a more competitive market could offer.
Moreover, centralised app stores mean that apps or companies not looking to play by the tech giants’ playbook are often blacklisted. This shows the extent of the dictatorial powers of such platforms.
Epic Game and its popular battle royale game Fortnite became a victim of Apple’s predatory policy. Epic Games had implemented its own in-app payment system that bypassed Apple’s standard 30 percent fee. This maneuver irked Apple and it banned the game from its app store.
Read More: Samsung smart devices may stop using Android soon
Android is the most popular OS
The current smartphone market is hugely tilted towards Android. According to a Statista report, by July 2021, more than 73 percent of mobile users are using the Android operating system. Second place is held by Apple, which contributes its operating system to nearly 26 percent of smartphones sold all around the world.
Read more: Apple — The most Chinese American company
Android’s massive popularity owes to its user-friendly and easy-to-use operating system. However, disadvantages like patchy updates, ad-friendly applications, and compulsory applications by manufacturers, makes Android highly unlikeable.
PM Modi’s Digital India
Ever Since PM Modi came to the power with massive mandates from the people of the country, he has focused on expediting India’s modernisation. His visionary approach translated into the launch of the Digital India campaign. The campaign has started to bear fruit now.
Read more: PM Modi’s vision for Digital India is now bearing fruit
Moreover, other than providing digital infrastructure to the villages, the Union government is also incentivizing smartphones production in the country. The government has allocated Rs 41,000 crores for the PLI scheme in smartphones. The scheme became an instant hit and in 2021, India’s mobile phone registered 250 percent growth.
If India does manage to develop a robust and competitive OS, it could become the biggest market in the world by a long distance. However, with the hold that Google and Apple have currently on the market, it will not be an easy task.
Welcome move, also India should have its own OS for laptops & PC’s……Sodt Billy should be chased out of India…..
True. China is smart and sensed this disaster coming from outside and they have developed their own software, OS and systems and India being the leading software service provider should have done this pretty long ago and it’s shame that we are still thinking instead of already having ready.
What surprises is the lack of interest & enthusiasm from Indian software companies , why should they wait for govt policy ?? When they boast of talent & brains , what prevents them to develop alternative for OS , FB , Twitter etc etc…China could it ..we also missed on the hardware manufacturing , focussing more on the fancy SW industry.
Indian software companies aren’t good in developing from scratch. 90% of Indian IT is service sector.
CDAC is far better than an average Indian IT company.