The smartphone market has been dominated by Apple, but recently the Droid has been able to leverage Google's information services into market gains, while Blackberry, known for its secure business-oriented network, has attempted to become more attractive with a "friendlier" interface. At the same time, a number of less capable fringe firms are emerging. Suppose an economist analyzes this industry as follows: ECONOMIST: Each firm brings its own distinct capabilities to its product design, with each product design appealing to a different segment of the market. Apple is known for the aesthetics of its products; Google is known for its ability to manage information effectively; and Blackberry is known for its more secure data network. Each of these distinct capabilities is likely to be sustainable for some time and will be a source of competitive advantage for each. Fringe firms, on the other hand, do not appear to be able to replicate these capabilities; thus, they are more homogeneous and more likely to compete on price.

This analysis is consistent with the: