Google Inc (GOOG), Apple Inc. (AAPL): Is There Room for Another Mobile OS? Not a Chance

That leaves just one smaller player that newbie mobile operating systems could possibly combat — Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY). Despite losing its No. 3 spot to Windows Phone, the company still shipped 1 million devices running its new BB10 OS in Q1 2013. Newcomers trying to enter the mobile market may look at Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) as an easy target, but its latest shipment numbers show that new players are going to have to put up a good fight.

That’s not to say that consumers won’t eventually warm to a new OS, but it doesn’t seem likely right now. Take Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB)’s recent launch of Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) Home as an example. The Home overlay isn’t an operating system, per se, but it is an alternative way to interact with a smartphone that’s not the same experience as Android, iOS, Windows Phone, or BB10. So far, the new system hasn’t proved very successful. The HTC First, which launched with Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) Home preloaded on the device, is already being discontinued just one month after launching. Facebook Home’s competition right now is just Android (since you can’t load Home on iOS), and it appears even one OS competitor is enough.

Other mobile operating systems will launch this year, and I hope all of them offer something we don’t see on current devices. More mobile players could bring better innovations and more choices for consumers. We’ll have to wait and see how these operating systems are received later this year, but I just don’t see any new OS claiming the No. 3 or even No. 4 spot, let alone making any real gains that change the mobile landscape.

The article Is There Room for Another Mobile OS? Not a Chance originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Chris Neiger.

Fool contributor Chris Neiger has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Apple, Facebook, and Google and owns shares of Apple, Facebook, Google, and Microsoft.

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