The cell phone ecosystem

Some of you may not think of a cell phone as being part of an ecosystem. But Webster defines ecosystem as "a system formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their environment". I'd say that fits.

Some of you who read my blog regularly know I recently upgraded to an Android based phone. At it's recent press release with Verizon for the new Motorola Droid X, Google stated that 160,000 Android based phones were being activated per day! Think about that for a minute. So I wanted to circle back and report my findings and feelings on my first several weeks with my myTouch 3G Slide (MTS) on T-Mobile.

I have to say the Android ecosystem is very different than the RIM ecosystem. The RIM ecosystem is well defined and set. By that I mean when you get a BlackBerry and take out of the package to start using it most all the apps are already there. The phone, calendar, contacts and e-mail of course. But also a notepad app and some other built-in common apps. Over the years I came to rely on those apps. They became integrated into my world. Their ecosystem became intertwined in my ecosystem.

And now along comes the Android to upset the apple cart if you will. But the Android ecosystem is far different than the RIM ecosystem. Oh yes, it still includes the phone, calendar, contacts and e-mail pieces, of course. But the follow on apps like notepad and others were not there. But in there place is a rich marketplace of applications, many of which are free. And if the devil is in the details, then the devil in here is determining which app will be the best fit for you.

In one sense this was easy with the BlackBerry. Here's what we included take it or leave it. But now you have a marketplace environment where you can browse and search for and peruse a wide variety of apps for any given need. so to that end I want to tell you about some of the most useful (if not cool) apps I've found thus far.

First, I have to say I love the tight integration with Gmail & Google Apps. I wasn't even home from the store and my new MTS already had all my e-mail, contacts and calendar items in it's memory bank.

Next, I really like an app called ColorNote. It allows you to enter notes and then color code them for various purposes. It's also great for making checklists for going to the store and then checking off each item as you get it.

Next is an app called Handcent. This app takes text messaging to a new level allowing you interaction to be more graphical and fun.

Next is Google Sky. What a cool app! Have you ever been out looking at the night sky and wondering what that star or planet was? Enter Google Sky. Activate Google Sky, hold your phone up to the same place in the sky and your screen will show in real time what stars, planets and constellations are in that location (using GPS and star chart data).

Next is an app I picked up this week from another MTS user, Key Ring. Key Ring allows you to store all your grocery store and other UPC based loyalty cards. Never again do you have to remember your store cards. You bring them up on your phone and have the cashier scan your phones screen. Neat!

Next is Movies by Flixster. This app shows you all the movie theaters in a 25 mile radius and their movie times. It also allows you to integrate with your Netflix queue and add, move, or change the list of movies in your queue.

And last but not least is a totally geeky app called WiFi Analyzer. This app uses the MTS onboard WiFi to check signals and levels and track signal strength and channel usage of nearby WiFi systems. This is great for the IT guy who needs to see if there's a dead zone in a WiFi network.

All things considered I must say I like this new ecosystem. It's new. It's different. But it allows you to customize your smartphone in ways that were unimagineable just a few short years ago. And it reminds me as a technology professional why I love technology ... because it's a moving target.

Welcome to 2010 ... welcome to the future ...