We cannot look at the current state of Mobile Operating Systems without looking at the past. Android, iOS, and every modern OS drew inspiration from their past counterparts. Back then, mobile phones had simpler functions and that is to help us get connected. Besides the basic functions of calling, answering phone calls, and receiving messages, at most you’ll just play ‘The Snake’ game on the phone.

Before mobile phones took a turn to the Millenium, it mostly ran on embedded systems. An embedded system usually features a processor, input, output, and memory which is commonly seen used on portable music players and vehicles. Soon after, mobile operating systems evolved in the form of Personal Digital Assistants. What it does are far more sophisticated than the basic is by allowing mobile devices to organize emails and gain internet access. At that time, the most popular OS for PDAs was the PenPoint OS.

Then a few years later, Symbian OS emerged during the mobile blooming era of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Symbian was a cooperative effort from Nokia, Motorola, Ericsson, and PSION. That said, these three brands gains it’s popularity mainly during the rise of Symbian.

The 2000s also saw the rise of mobile operating systems from Microsoft and Blackberry. But, in 2007 Apple released its first iPhone, and with it is Apple’s iOS changed the whole landscape. The iPhone combined cell phone functionality with iPod and internet capabilities. Soon enough in 2008, Android 1.0 was launched for mobile phones and subsequently for tablets and other mobile devices.

Until now, iOS and Android remain the most favorable mobile operating systems. And though these two OS seems to be a constant rivalry, a healthy competition doesn’t hurt.