In short, the Mobile Messaging industry is seeing general agreement on the general concept of e-mail, but a complete lack of agreement or standardization on common technologies and protocols. Mobile Messaging providers are distinguished not only by differences in their services and products, but also by differences in:
This high degree of heterogeneity and lack of interoperability within the industry acts to constrain its growth. Users are compelled to invest in one of several closed solutions from a particular group of service providers, and must then remain committed to that group of service providers.
Growth of the industry would be greatly enhanced if users were able to invest in a set of Mobile Messaging hardware products, then move freely from one service provider to another. This reduces the capital investment risk to the purchaser, thereby facilitating and encouraging his investment. Also, by decoupling the various components of a Mobile Messaging solution from one another, competition within each component is encouraged, resulting in better products and services. All of this serves to increase the vitality and growth rate of the industry as a whole.