A hard hitting article from Ewan talks about how Vodafone 360, Vodafone’s latest service platform in UK , has flunked at the launch itself. This should serve as a wake up call to Indian mobile carriers on their approach to 3G.This is consistent with the struggle mobile carriers all over the world are facing – are they just network providers ( or bit-pipes) or can they actually provide innovative services using the network as a platform? Unlike the internet which is an open network which can be used by anyone to develop apps, the wireless networks of mobile carriers are walled gardens where no one can get in except with their permission. Until now, the carriers’ approach has not resulted in any serious innovation.
More on Vodafone 360 here.
