Can a company successfully deliver world-class software AND hardware?

In terms of branding and identity, I say no. Those two domains are too large for a single company’s identity to straddle.

Apple, for example, has been publicly described by Steve Jobs as a ‘software company’, not a hardware company. Even while Apple manufactures its branded hardware through contractors like Foxconn, Apple itself revolves around its operating systems and user experience.

Microsoft, who is quietly merging with Nokia, is also a software company. Yes, you’ll see Widows Phone OS becoming prevalent on Nokia devices, but the big MS is, and always will be, a software company at the core.

Now Google has purchased Motorola. No, it’s not because the search giant wants to become a hardware manufacturer… the move was strategic play to protect itself from patent-infringement lawsuits. By acquiring over 17,000 mobile phone patents via Motorola, Google has firewalled itself against legal roadblocks as it develops the Android mobile operating system. Don’t be fooled… Google does not intend to brand itself with hardware. Rather, Google is building a protective fence around its software.

So. I predict that the world of mobile and handhelds will divide into four software camps: Apple (+Foxconn), Microsoft (+Nokia), Google (+Motorola), and the wildcard fourth space that will be soon vacated by the hemorrhaging BlackBerry following.  Those faction lines will be drawn with software, not with hardware.