There is definitely a different mood here in Barcelon at Mobile World Congress this year. While there is still optimism about the future of mobile technology, the uncertainty of the economic crisis has knocked out the exuberance that as present last year.
Well, out everyone but Eugene Kaspersky, founder of the Russian internet security company Kaspersky Labs. I had a chat to Kaspersky this morning about its new products for securing smart phones.
Kaspersky made some interesting observations regarding the way he believes that threats to mobile devices will emerge. He believes that part of the reason why Microsoft has been so clearly the target of hackers is that it made its friendly towards software developers in the early days - at least more so than IBM's OS2 and Novell's Netware. But making itself friendly to software engineers also made it friendly to hackers.
He now believes that those mobile platforms that make themselves friendly engineers - such as Google's Android - will be more of a target for hackers than closed systems, such as those of Blackberry and Apple. Hence, Google's Android platform is more under threat than some others in the market. However, that friendliness to engineers may also ensure its longevity in comparison to other platforms.
More executive interviews this afternoon - then the chance to roam the halls of the event tomorrow. Stay tuned for further updates ...
Talking about security Brad, do you have the latest on Sol Trujillo losing the HTC Touch Phone Steve Ballmer gave him?
Have you heard that online joke about the Microsoft and Telstra CEO in Spain that started a new Company called IE? (Industrial Espionage) :-)
I should have warned old Sol about those Spanish pickpockets. I am sure that is how Gorillaz caught up with me all those years ago:-)
This latest episode with Telstra takes Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5 Beta-Tests to whole new heights, huh? :-)
Posted by: chris simon | February 20, 2009 at 08:44 AM