Operating system simply refers to a software which provides the users an interface and allows them to utilize the hardware features of the device and can be considered as backbone of a device. Mobile Operating System is the first to boot up when you turn on a mobile device. You might have seen the brand logo when you turn on a mobile device, that’s where the mobile O/S boots and comes in action. However, you cannot interchange the O/S of mobile phone – For Example you cannot install iOS on Samsung or any other android running device and you cannot install android on any iOS supporting device.

Mobile O/S is an Operating System designed to power Smartphones, Tablets and also wearable devices like Smart Watch. Operating System vary from device to device. Apple has their own Operating System for iPhone, iPod, iPad known as iOS. Smartphone brands like Samsung, OnePlus use Android Operating System and allows users with a wide range of options to customize the device.

Upgradation of Mobile O/S

New versions of Operating System are released regularly and users should update their devices to the latest O/S by using the Software Update option available on their mobile devices. Updates can be installed Over the Air (OTA) as well as by using PC Suites which varies from brand to brand. These updates are usually created to fix any bugs present in the previous released update and also vendors usually prove security patches and new features for mobile devices.

Types of O/S:

1. Android: It is the majorly used Operating System developed by Google. Android not only supports mobile devices and tablets but also powers Televisions and Wearables devices. Wearable O/S is the term used for Operating System that powers Smart Watches.
2. iOS: iOS was introduced in 29th June 2007 when the first iPhone was developed. Since then iOS has been under gone many upgrades and currently the latest one is the iOS 13. Apple has still not allowed any other manufacturer to lay hands on its operating system. Unlike Android, Apple has more concentrated on the performance along with appearance. This is the reason that the basic appearance of iOS is almost the same as it was in 2007. Overall it is very user-friendly and is one of the mobile best operating systems in the world.
3. Blackberry O/S: Blackberry OS is the property of RIM (Research In Motion) and was first released in 1999. RIM has developed this operating system for its Blackberry line of smartphones. Blackberry is much different from other operating systems. The interface style, as well as the Smartphone design, is also different having a trackball for moving on the menu and a qwerty keyboard. Blackberry OS is a close source OS and is not available for any other manufacturer. It is a very reliable OS and is immune to almost all the viruses.
4. Symbian O/S: Symbian OS is officially the property of Nokia. It means that any other company will have to take permission from Nokia before using this operating system. Nokia has remained a giant in the low-end mobile market, so after Java Symbian was the most used in the mobile phones till a couple of years ago.
5. Windows O/S: Windows OS has been used in mobile phones, but normal mobile phone users find it a bit difficult to operate it but at the same time it was very popular among people who were used to it. This was the case until Nokia and Microsoft joined hands to work together. One of the Windows release by Microsoft is known as Windows 7 which has gained immense popularity among all kind of users. With its colourful and user-friendly interface, it has given Windows OS a new life and is currently in demand all over the world. Another reason behind its success is that this latest OS is used in very powerful devices made by Nokia. The computer like look has totally vanished from the windows phones with the release of Windows 7. Samsung and HTC also released some Windows-based phones, but they could not many places in the market. Nokia Lumia series is completely windows based.
6. BADA O/S: Like others, Samsung also owns an operating system that is known as BADA. It is designed for mid-range and high-end smartphones. Bada is a quiet user-friendly and efficient operating system, much like Android, but unfortunately Samsung did not use Bada on a large scale for unknown reasons.
7. Palm O/S: Palm OS was designed to work on touchscreen GUI. Some Years later it was upgraded and was able to support smartphones. Unfortunately, it could not make a mark on the market and currently is not being used in any of the latest top devices.

Apart from the above mentioned O/S there are many others as well which are available on phones as well as other devices. Some of them are: KaiO/S, Open Web O/S etc.

Pros of Mobile O/S:

• New features are available via updates.
• Multiple applications can be installed on device.
• Devices can be customized for better experience.

Cons of Mobile O/S:

• Old versions make devices vulnerable.
• Application installation is dependent on the O/S version available on the devices.
• Not every device receives new updates, making it vulnerable to cyber-attacks.

Conclusion:

Mobile Operating System refers to the software that runs on mobile devices and allows users to install multiple applications. There are different flavors and versions of Operating System available, depending on the make of the mobile phone. A Mobile phone cannot be functional without an Operating System. Thus, Mobile Phone and Smart devices are inter-dependent on Operating Systems.