The impact of HTML5 on the ecosystem

HTML5 is so popular that it is everywhere when cloud computing hypes. My mom asked me what the cloud is. Why do I keep talking about TV news? Even the old lady knows that the concept of "Cloud" has changed from a professional term to a fashionable word, so it is too hyped. Cloud is everywhere. How many servers are directly used as the cloud, and network interaction is called the cloud?

What can HTML5 do today? What will it do? When translating VisionMobile's Mozilla B2G's article about whether it is the new HTML5 king, I was interested in thinking about it and wrote this article about HTML5.

The impact of HTML5 on the ecosystem

About two or three years ago, the widget went viral. It focuses on web application, and HTML5 is not excluded. It is a web technology. Web is sought after because itIt is the dream of a leader and a leader in the mobile ecosystem..

I. Operators and communication manufacturers: 3G troubles

The age of operators cannot be the first, cool, and surging has passed. Operators and communication manufacturers active in I-TUT, PP2 and other mobile communication organizations, developed 2G, 3G, 4G ,..., Or even nG standard specifications. They have made great efforts in Baseband Communication (corresponding to the BP function of mobile phones) and are promoting the development of the entire industry.

The basic difference between smartphones and functional mobile phones is AP + BP (please refer to [5]). The advantages of carriers and traditional communication vendors are BP, BP mainly supports voice calls, text messages, and 3G data connections. Carriers use voice and text messages to combine different services.

The 3G era has arrived. However, the typical 3G service that the operator expects, the video calls with high ARPU values, cannot appear or be promoted. 3G data connection provides Internet data connection basis for AP applications. AP is the strength of software platforms and application developers. game rules are determined by platform vendors. They have developed various alternative applications on mobile phones, such as VoIP applications to replace operator voice services. Instant Messaging, SNS, and Weibo are replacing traditional text messages (for example, the decrease in text messages in the Year of the Dragon ).

As a result, the expected 3G will weaken the operator's position as a dumb pipeline. This is ironic and cruel. Operators are struggling to invest a lot of manpower and resources to build up 3G/4G, and eventually the operators are passive.

2. mobile phone manufacturers: OEM of mobile phone technology manufacturing

Today, commissioned by the same Foundry factory, there is no difference in the Process of cell phone production, manufacturers can only renew the design and BOM. For the design, smartphones are dominated by simple straight boards, making it difficult to stand out in industrial design. To be personalized and eye-catching, simply add a shell. How much is the hardware cost of the same-file terminal different from that of Samsung in the BOM?

In terms of mobile phone hardware production, it is not only difficult to open the gap, but also the professional threshold is also decreasing. Competition in any shard price is a fierce competition that kills one thousand of the enemy and loses eight hundred of Self-loss.

So what about systems and applications?

Iii. Dual oligarchy: Apple and Google

The control points of the ecosystem mainly include Development Environment Control and Application release control. The former is API control, and the latter is held by the App Store. Of course, there is also brand control, but this is not particularly emphasized in the domestic market. You can check whether the model has passed the CTS test by checking whether the Android mobile phone is installed in the Android Market or other app stores. All these control points are essentially platform control. The platform determines the API, and the Native App Store naturally takes an absolute advantage.

The platform is firmly controlled by companies. Apple relies on closed sources, while Google relies on ultra-fast version changes. Microsoft has invested heavily in Windows Phone and has participated in the competition on platforms. However, the market response from Lumia is still to be observed.

4. Change your mind: bypass the platform and control applications

Developing a platform has a huge investment and a long cycle. The mobile platform features fast updates and you may never be able to catch up with it. Again, mourn for meego. If it can survive half a year earlier, it may survive and have a bright future.

There are too many risks for the platform. Whether it is powerful, whether there is a daily investment, or whether it can be productized quickly is a direct problem. Apple and Google control the entire ecosystem by keeping a solid grasp of the platform.Since it cannot be broken through on the platform, why not change your mind, bypass the platform, and directly control the application.

Cross-platform control allows you to bypass the platform and control applications. Developers/developers may want to adapt to different platforms more easily. ButLarge Internet vendors, OEMs, and operators, who are interested in or interested in these ecosystems, hope to use HTML5 to obtain the right to speak of the ecosystem in a cross-platform manner..

HTML5 does not need to consider the entire system. It can be built on an existing platform (for example, Android). You only need to use the web engine (we recommend that you read the WebKit: webbrowser architecture), such as the open-source WebKit, to improve the performance, and hope that the HTML5 standard can improve the user experience, interaction and offline capabilities. It is equivalent to providing an HTML5 API-based middleware through WebKit, which is the basis for developing and running applications.

The entire system platform is reduced to the web engine, and hardware adaptation, power supply optimization, and other issues are handed over to the OS to solve, greatly reducing risks. Not only are manufacturers of OEMs, but Internet operators and operators all think that they may have the power to do this. For a while, HTML5 has carried too many of their dreams.

5. Calm down

Frankly speaking, I support this attempt because I haven't thought of other feasible methods yet. However, we need to analyze HTML5 as the starting point to control the ecosystem.

(1) standard and distinctive

Carriers can provide small-payment APIs, voice messaging, and other network APIs; Internet providers can provide their cloud services and cloud service APIs to developers; OEMs can improve HTML5 performance through underlying hardware acceleration and other methods.

HTML5 is a public standard. In the above three aspects, OEM does not affect the interface standard (for cloud mobile phones), but carriers and Internet providers will be outside the standard HTML5 interface, add your own specific API as a feature. To break through the HTML5 army, special features are required. However, the difference provided by such special functions will surely bind a carrier or a certain cloud service, bringing new problems of Cross-carrier and cross-Internet businesses in cross-platform aspect.

Cross-platform standardization is required, and special functions are inevitably bound. How to deal with this relationship and how the special functions break through among many competitors to attract users and developers is the key.

(2) characteristic Paradox

Different operators and Internet providers provide different types of API functions, and different Internet providers provide different API features. Their APIs do not cover all requirements, and they are the relationship between coexistence and competition. If you want to monopolize the upstream of an ecosystem, it is difficult.

Special APIs provide cloud functions or network functions. They are actually extensions of Internet businesses and operator services. They can maintain and improve service benefits, expand service coverage, and develop long tails. However, it should be noted that for middleware, full coverage and full functionality depend on HTML5, rather than the added features. The added API can play a major role in the end, but it may have a significant impact. Don't be too optimistic.

HTML5 can indeed reduce the influence of Apple and Google, but it is not equivalent to increasing its chips.

(3) control the App Store

App store is a key control point for applications. Unlike the native iTune and Android markets, HTML5 App stores have no inherent advantages. The competition for mainstream HTML5 app stores will be fierce, and it will soon take place.

From the HTML5 platform to the App Store, or from the existing business development to HTML5 and App Store (like FaceBook), the latter seems more practical, starting from expanding and enhancing the existing main business, it is suitable for Internet vendors.

Operators' competitiveness comes from small payment, network APIs, and user resources. Many articles on user resources mention that many Internet providers believe that operators will. However, I don't think operators focus much on user analysis like Internet providers. This is far from enough. They need to mine data from ancient, complex, and IT systems to obtain user behavior data, i'm not optimistic too much.

Small-scale payment by operators is currently a competitor in the credit card payment mode of app stores. It features flexibility, low barrier, pre-payment, low transaction fees, and risk avoidance of financial transactions. Operators can cooperate with Internet providers to obtain their respective needs. However, if the operator wants to go to the front-end and effectively control or participate in the ecosystem, the advantage of the Internet operator lies in the OEM subsidy. It seems that the operator is suitable to start operating from the "money" aspect.

HTML5 carries many dreams and ambitions. In terms of a public standard, what are the joys and sorrows of the last few?

Recommended reading:
[1] HTML5 Origins
[2] visionmobile: What does HTML5 mean to the mobile industry?
[3] significance of the Web Platform to operators: 2011.11.3
[4] visionmobile: whether Mozilla's B2G is the new HTML5 leader, winning in WebOS's fall
[5] some hardware knowledge about mobile phones: 2011.12.27

Related Links: My articles on Industrial Ecosystem chain and Miscellaneous