Title: Technology standards and increasing returns: Microsoft versus Nokia and Linux

Authors: Carla C.J.M. Millar, P. Hartley Millar, Chong Ju Choi

Addresses: School of Management and Governance, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500AE Enschede, The Netherlands; Ashridge Business School, Berkhamsted, UK. ' Management Partners, 44A Bilton Towers, Great Cumberland Place, London W1H 7LD, UK. ' Department of Shipping, Trade & Finance, Cass City University Business School, 106 Bunhill Row, London EC1Y 8TZ, UK

Abstract: The purpose of this article is to advance theory on the concept of increasing returns by reviewing different strands of literature (Arthur, 1994; Liebowitz and Margolis, 1990; 1994; David, 1990) and to develop the concept of a |critical mass| strategy which incorporates both technological effects and important social network and interaction effects, which also need to be part of the business strategy in an increasing returns environment. Such concepts are further developed on the basis of an apparent conundrum in the case of mobile phone software, where the operating system standards of Symbian and Linux are part of the competitive struggle between Nokia and other vendors and Microsoft, despite their invisibility to the end user.

Keywords: Nokia; Microsoft; Linux; Symbian; open source software; increasing returns; mobile phones; cell phones; operating software; critical mass; social networking; technology management; standards; standardisation; competiveness; knowledge management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2010.030163

International Journal of Technology Management, 2010 Vol.49 No.4, pp.357 - 369

Published online: 06 Apr 2013 *

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