Editing Smartphone (section)

====Operating system competition====
[[File:Meizu MX4.jpg|thumb|upright|A [[Meizu MX4]] with [[Flyme OS]]]]
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The iPhone and later touchscreen-only Android devices together popularized the slate [[Form factor (mobile phones)|form factor]], based on a large [[capacitive touchscreen]] as the sole means of interaction, and led to the decline of earlier, keyboard- and keypad-focused platforms.<ref name="How iPhone Changed the World" /> Later, navigation keys such as the home, ''back'', ''[[menu key|menu]]'', ''task'' and ''search'' buttons have also been increasingly replaced by nonphysical touch keys, then virtual, simulated on-screen navigation keys, commonly with access combinations such as a long press of the task key to simulate a short menu key press, as with home button to search.<ref>{{cite web |title=How to access the hardware menu button on Samsung Galaxy S5? |url=https://galaxys5guide.com/samsung-galaxy-s5-how-to-guides/how-to-access-the-hardware-menu-button/ |website=Samsung Galaxy S5 Guide |date=2014-05-07}}</ref> More recent "bezel-less" types have their screen surface space extended to the unit's front bottom to compensate for the display area lost for simulating the navigation keys. While virtual keys offer more potential customizability, their location may be inconsistent among systems depending on screen rotation and software used.
 
Multiple vendors attempted to update or replace their existing smartphone platforms and devices to better-compete with Android and the iPhone; Palm unveiled a new platform known as [[webOS]] for its [[Palm Pre]] in late-2009 to replace [[Palm OS]], which featured a focus on a task-based "card" metaphor and seamless synchronization and integration between various online services (as opposed to the then-conventional concept of a smartphone needing a PC to serve as a "canonical, authoritative repository" for user data).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2009/01/palm-launches-new-handset-pre-operating-system-at-ces/|title=Palm strikes back with new OS, pre handset at CES|last=Stokes|first=Jon|date=2009-01-08|website=Ars Technica |access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2009/01/of-clouds-palms-webos-and-cutting-the-cord/|title="Synergy" means no need to "save" or "sync" on Palm's pre|last=Stokes|first=Jon|date=2009-01-12|website=Ars Technica |access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref> [[Hewlett-Packard|HP]] acquired Palm in 2010 and released several other webOS devices, including the [[Pre 3]] and [[HP TouchPad]] tablet. As part of a proposed divestment of its consumer business to focus on enterprise software, HP abruptly ended development of future webOS devices in August 2011, and sold the rights to webOS to [[LG Electronics]] in 2013, for use as a [[smart TV]] platform.<ref>{{cite news|last=Iwatani|first=Yukari|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424053111904070604576516770382416428|title=Pioneering Firm Bows to 'Post-PC World'|date=August 19, 2011|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=November 30, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-21587666|title=HP sells Palm WebOS assets to LG|date=2013-02-26|work=BBC News|access-date=2020-03-02 }}</ref>

[[Research in Motion]] introduced the vertical-sliding [[BlackBerry Torch]] and BlackBerry OS 6 in 2010, which featured a redesigned user interface, support for gestures such as pinch-to-zoom, and a new web browser based on the same [[WebKit]] rendering engine used by the iPhone.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnet.com/reviews/blackberry-torch-9800-review/|title=BlackBerry Torch 9800 review: BlackBerry Torch 9800|last=Cha|first=Bonnie|website=CNET |access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2010/09/21/can-blackerry-torch-compete-with-iphone/|title=Can Blackerry Torch compete with iPhone?|date=2010-09-21|website=Orange County Register |access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref> The following year, RIM released BlackBerry OS 7 and new models in the [[BlackBerry Bold|Bold]] and Torch ranges, which included a new Bold with a touchscreen alongside its keyboard, and the Torch 9860—the first BlackBerry phone to not include a physical keyboard.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2011/08/03/rim-launches-blackberry-torch-9810-torch-9850-and/|title=RIM launches BlackBerry Torch 9810, Torch 9860 and Bold 9900, we go hands-on!|website=Engadget |date=August 3, 2011 |access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref> In 2013, it replaced the legacy BlackBerry OS with a revamped, [[QNX]]-based platform known as [[BlackBerry 10]], with the all-touch [[BlackBerry Z10]] and keyboard-equipped [[BlackBerry Q10|Q10]] as launch devices.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/1/30/3929760/blackberry-z10-review|title=BlackBerry Z10 review: a new life, or life support?|last=Topolsky|first=Joshua|date=2013-01-30|website=The Verge |access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref>

In 2010, Microsoft unveiled a replacement for Windows Mobile known as [[Windows Phone]], featuring a new touchscreen-centric user interface built around [[flat design]] and typography, a home screen with "live tiles" containing feeds of updates from apps, as well as integrated [[Microsoft Office]] apps.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/189347/Windows_Phone_7_An_Indepth_Look_at_the_Features_and_Interface.html|title=Windows Phone 7: An In-depth Look at the Features and Interface|date=2010-02-15|website=PCWorld |access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref> In February 2011, Nokia announced that it had entered into a major partnership with Microsoft, under which it would exclusively use Windows Phone on all of its future smartphones, and integrate Microsoft's [[Bing (search engine)|Bing]] search engine and [[Bing Maps]] (which, as part of the partnership, would also license [[Nokia Maps]] data) into all future devices. The announcement led to the abandonment of both Symbian, as well as [[MeeGo]]—a Linux-based mobile platform it was co-developing with Intel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-12427680|title=Nokia and Microsoft form partnership|date=11 February 2011|website=BBC News|access-date=16 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Weintraub |first=Seth |url=http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2011/02/08/nokias-elop-drops-bomb-the-platform-is-on-fire/ |title=Nokia's Elop drops bomb: the platform is on fire |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=2011-02-08 |access-date=2013-06-14 |archive-date=June 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627165328/http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2011/02/08/nokias-elop-drops-bomb-the-platform-is-on-fire/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=ben-Aaron|first=Diana|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-11/nokia-joins-forces-with-microsoft-to-challenge-dominance-of-apple-google.html|title=Nokia Falls Most Since July 2009 After Microsoft Deal|date=11 February 2011|publisher=Bloomberg|access-date=2020-02-26}}</ref> Nokia's low-end [[Lumia 520]] saw strong demand and helped Windows Phone gain niche popularity in some markets,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2017/10/windows-phone-is-now-officially-dead-a-sad-tale-of-what-might-have-been/|title=Windows Phone is now officially dead: A sad tale of what might have been|last=Bright|first=Peter|date=2017-10-09|website=Ars Technica |access-date=2020-02-26}}</ref> overtaking BlackBerry in global market share in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/lumia-520-extends-lead-as-most-popular-windows-phone-as-nokia-takes-90-percent-of-the-market/|title=Lumia 520 extends lead as most popular Windows Phone, as Nokia takes 90 percent of the market|last=Tung|first=Liam|website=ZDNet |access-date=2020-02-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/idc-windows-phone-sees-largest-year-over-year-increase-android-still-dominates/|title=IDC: Windows Phone sees largest year-over-year increase, Android still dominates|last=Miller|first=Matthew|website=ZDNet |access-date=2020-02-26}}</ref>

In mid-June 2012, [[Meizu]] released its mobile operating system, [[Flyme OS]].

Many of these attempts to compete with Android and iPhone were short-lived. Over the course of the decade, the two platforms became a clear [[duopoly]] in smartphone sales and market share, with BlackBerry, Windows Phone, and other operating systems eventually stagnating to little or no measurable market share.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/16/14634656/android-ios-market-share-blackberry-2016|title=99.6 percent of new smartphones run Android or iOS|last=Vincent|first=James|date=2017-02-16|website=The Verge |access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/8/20/9181269/gartner-q2-2015-smartphone-sales|title=96.8 percent of new smartphones sold are either iPhone or Android devices|last=Savov|first=Vlad|date=2015-08-20|website=The Verge |access-date=2020-03-02}}</ref> In 2015, BlackBerry began to pivot away from its in-house mobile platforms in favor of producing Android devices, focusing on a security-enhanced distribution of the software. The following year, the company announced that it would also exit the hardware market to focus more on software and its enterprise middleware,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnet.com/au/news/blackberry-to-stop-building-its-own-smartphones/|title=BlackBerry bails on building its own phones|work=CNET|access-date=June 21, 2017 }}</ref> and began to license the BlackBerry brand and its Android distribution to third-party OEMs such as [[TCL Corporation|TCL]] for future devices.<ref name="tc-tcldeal">{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/12/15/blackberry/|title=TCL signs an exclusive deal to build BlackBerry-branded phones|website=TechCrunch|date=December 15, 2016 |access-date=December 15, 2016}}</ref><ref name=gandm-bbpriv>{{cite news|title=BlackBerry bets on Android's apps to buoy new Priv|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/tech-news/blackberry-revenue-falls-short-adjusted-loss-more-than-expected/article26539263/|access-date=26 September 2015|work=The Globe & Mail}}</ref>

In September 2013, Microsoft announced its intent to acquire Nokia's mobile device business for $7.1 billion, as part of a strategy under CEO [[Steve Ballmer]] for Microsoft to be a "devices and services" company.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/7/8/8910999/microsoft-job-cuts-2015-nokia-write-off|title=Microsoft writes off $7.6 billion from Nokia deal, announces 7,800 job cuts|last=Warren|first=Tom|date=2015-07-08|website=The Verge |access-date=2020-02-26}}</ref> Despite the growth of Windows Phone and the [[Microsoft Lumia|Lumia]] range (which accounted for nearly 90% of all Windows Phone devices sold),<ref name="PocketNowNokia90percent">{{cite news|last=Rivera|first=Jaime|url=http://pocketnow.com/2013/10/18/nokia-owns-90-of-the-windows-phone-market-share|title=Nokia owns 90% of the Windows Phone market share.|date=18 October 2013|newspaper=PocketNow|access-date=February 26, 2020|archive-date=November 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116181156/http://pocketnow.com/2013/10/18/nokia-owns-90-of-the-windows-phone-market-share|url-status=dead}}</ref> the platform never had significant market share in the key U.S. market,<ref name=":0" /> and Microsoft was unable to maintain Windows Phone's momentum in the years that followed, resulting in dwindling interest from users and app developers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/10/23/9602350/microsoft-windows-phone-app-removal-windows-store|title=Windows Phone has a new app problem|last=Warren|first=Tom|date=2015-10-23|website=The Verge |access-date=2020-02-26}}</ref> After Balmer was succeeded by [[Satya Nadella]] (who has placed a larger focus on software and cloud computing) as CEO of Microsoft, it took a $7.6 billion [[write-off]] on the Nokia assets in July 2015, and laid off nearly the entire [[Microsoft Mobile]] unit in May 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/5/25/11766344/microsoft-nokia-impairment-layoffs-may-2016|title=Microsoft lays off hundreds as it guts its phone business|last=Warren|first=Tom|date=2016-05-25|website=The Verge |access-date=2020-02-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/10/10/16452162/windows-phone-history-glorious-failure|title=Windows Phone was a glorious failure|last=Savov|first=Vlad|date=2017-10-10|website=The Verge |access-date=2020-02-26}}</ref><ref name="auto1"/>

Prior to the completion of the sale to Microsoft, Nokia released a series of Android-derived smartphones for [[emerging market]]s known as [[Nokia X family|Nokia X]], which combined an Android-based platform with elements of Windows Phone and Nokia's feature phone platform [[Nokia Asha platform|Asha]], using Microsoft and Nokia services rather than Google.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/2/24/5440498/nokia-x-android-phone-hands-on|title=This is Nokia X: Android and Windows Phone collide|last=Warren|first=Tom|date=2014-02-24|website=The Verge |access-date=2020-03-02}}</ref>