Convergence: Jack of All Trades or Master of One?

The whole TV/Broadband/Mobile/MP3 world sees to be heading for one point on the sunrise aimed at producing one appliance that is all things to all men: Whether its one box or one handset it has to do it all. This reminds me of the eternal battle ensuing in the software space between ERP systems (get you systems and processes right, then pore concrete on them) versus best-of-bread applications (malleable components linked together using open integration technologies allowing swap and change). It invariably boils down to whether you want something that is 90% good at doing lots of things or many things that are 100% good at doing just one.

In an earlier post, I talked about focus, focus, focus. Think of the last 10% being innovation and the 90% being the existing substance. For some markets the benefits of the innovation offset the complexity of having multiple vendors; for others simplicity and consistency is the name of the game. For most innovators, a market that has developed to this point of maturity is not a good place to be as you will face an uphill battle to see off the entrenched competition who will undoubtedly cover more bases than you do. So you need to find a peripheral market, which is undoubtedly smaller, where your value proposition can hold sway against the entrenched competition. When you are starting out, don't seek to be a jack of all trades, be master of one.