Microsoft's OneNote Challenges the Phone Industry
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Microsoft OneNote is an easy-to-use note taking software for collaborative information gathering and multi-level multi-user communication. It collects users' digital notes, sketches, screen clippings, audio comments, and other written information. Notes can then be shared among all the users on the OneNote social network or through the Internet. A few weeks ago, Microsoft announced the availability of the Android version of its popular Notebook application. The decision came as a surprise to many, since Microsoft no longer supports Windows mobile devices.
According to a Microsoft spokesperson, the company has "no plans" to release another version of its free-form note taking app for iOS or Android. In July, Microsoft made TwoNote available as an app on the Android Market. Since its launch, many have taken to the free-forms app, particularly iPhone users who find it far more functional than its Windows Mobile counterpart. For companies who prefer a more traditional approach, the integration of calendars and contacts into the free-form app could also pose another potential problem.
Since Microsoft no longer develops its own apps, it will be interesting to see how it approaches cross platform development in the future. Microsoft could, for example, begin development on its own Android app in partnership with a manufacturer. Apple has previously shown little interest in developing mobile applications, which is one of the reasons why it's still lagging behind Android in terms of adoption and usage. However, the prospect of working with a top-tier Android manufacturer could provide a different kind of incentive for companies to start designing and releasing their own apps. Whether or not Microsoft OneNote will ultimately become a hit remains to be seen.
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