Elon Musk will develop a smartphone alternative to Apple and Android if Twitter is banned from the App Store and Google Play. The world’s richest man told Twitter followers “I certainly hope it does not come to that, but, yes, if there is no other choice, I will make an alternative phone”
He was responding to video podcaster Liz Wheeler who said: “Elon Musk should produce his own smartphone, Half the country would gladly ditch the biased and snooping iPhone and Android. The man builds rockets to Mars. A silly little smartphone should be easy right?”
Around 84 per cent of 20,339 people who voted in a Twitter poll said they would buy a Musk-designed phone
With a net worth of around $200 billion, Musk has the financial clout to bring to market an alternative to iOS and Android, But he will be mindful that Microsoft, no small player, lost around €8 billion attempting a third ecosystem with Windows Phone.
However, Musk has a unique selling proposition unavailable to Apple and Google. He owns the Starlink satellite internet constellation operated by SpaceX.
This will provide global satellite Internet access service after 2023. Musk could produce a mobile device that would work anywhere in the world and which would not require a subscription to a mobile network. Indeed, it is likely he will have to develop a smartphone ecosystem to get Starlink to pay for itself
