Outlook: Psion venture deserves success
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.SO MAYBE Psion does have a future after all. Until yesterday, the manufacturer of those dinky hand-held computers looked destined to go the same way as Apple, becoming a much-admired but obsolete player in an industry dominated by the mighty Microsoft. Everyone recognised that Psion's software was the best. But nobody else wanted to use it.
Yesterday's deal has changed all that. In one fell swoop Psion has tied the world's three largest mobile phone manufacturers into its software. When Ericsson or Nokia launches a phone next year that lets you check your bank balance or order some theatre tickets, it will be running Psion's software. For proof of the potency of this combination, consider that Motorola was prepared to pay a hefty premium for getting involved at the last minute.
But how stable will this combination be? The mobile phone market is about as competitive as they come. Motorola, Nokia and the others spend most of their time desperately thinking of ways to get ahead of each other. How comfortable will they feel rubbing shoulders and sharing know-how in Symbian's boardroom? And will other manufacturers want to license software that is owned by their main competitors?
Nevertheless David Potter, Psion's chairman, deserves a round of applause. Having already built a world-leading technology company in a country which tends to let its best ideas get exploited abroad, he has now taken a bold move which gives his company a better than evens chance of surviving the onslaught from the likes of Bill Gates. He deserves to succeed despite the unstable nature of the alliance he has just put in place.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments