The Battle for the Next Generation of Mobility

The development of the Internet Protocol (IP), which can be used to transport all kinds of content, combined with the digitization of content, the roll-out of high speed broadband networks and the availability of intelligent, multimedia devices have led to “convergence”. “Convergence” refers to the shift from vertical industry silos and from a situation where different services are provided through separate networks - fixed, mobile, cable TV, IP, to a situation in which a variety of electronic communication services are accessed and seamlessly used across various networks and platforms. This convergence has led to the entry of new players into each of the markets and increased competition between players from formerly separate markets (I).It would appear that those playerswho have a dominant position in one of the segments of the electronic communications eco-system are seeking to exploit that position to their advantage to extend their domination to other related segments of the electronics communications ecosystem. Nowhere is this truer than in the area of mobility. This paper will explore three of the major battles in the area of electronic communications mobility and, principally, how three of the major players - Google, Microsoft and Apple - are using (or being subjected to) legal mechanisms to advance or defend their economic interests (I.). The three major battles that are explored are: the battle for spectrum, which is necessary for rolling out next-generation mobile networks (II.) the battle of the “Gate Keepers” (those players with dominant positions in a segment of the market) (III.) and, finally, the battle for the Smartphone market (IV.).