Shinichi's dilemma

At school, Shinichi was engrossed in his KSP game alongside his friends, killing time as they awaited their teacher's arrival, a routine they had grown accustomed to.

Yet, despite his attempts to immerse himself in the game, Shinichi found his attention wavering. The room buzzed with the chatter of his classmates, all animatedly discussing a singular topic: the iPhone.

One classmate, donned in designer wear, couldn't hide his excitement. "My dad promised he'll snag me an iPhone the moment it's out!" he boasted, his eyes alight with anticipation.

This declaration sparked a competitive spirit among the others. "Think you're the only one with a well-off family? My dad's getting me an iPhone too," retorted another, his tone laced with pride.

Choruses of "Me too!" echoed through the group, each student vying to prove their status, affirming the love and indulgence they received from their parents.

Yet, not all shared in this boastful exchange. A few voices emerged from the sidelines, tinged with a different tone.

"I wish," one student muttered, a hint of longing in his voice. "My dad said I've got to earn it – nothing comes without hard work."

Another chimed in, a mix of hope and determination shaping his words, "Same here. My dad laid down the challenge: ace my grades, and the iPhone is mine."

In this classroom, the divisions were clear: while some students basked in the promise of unearned luxuries, others faced the reality of working toward their desires, the iPhone becoming a symbol of both privilege and aspiration, and it's not even released yet.

As the classroom buzzed with iPhone chatter, Shinichi and his friends paused their KSP game, letting out a collective sigh.

Arnold, one of Shinichi's closest friends, couldn't help but express his mixed feelings with a chuckle. "I've been trying to keep the excitement at bay, telling myself the iPhone's release is still a ways off... I thought diving into other things would help me not think about it too much, but..." He glanced around at their classmates, their conversations a constant reminder, "it's kind of hard to ignore when it's all anyone talks about."

"Feel the same," came the chorus of agreement from Ryo, Satoshi, and Takeshi, their nods a silent testament to the shared sentiment.

Meanwhile, Shinichi watched his friends with a gentle smile. Deep down, he was just as captivated by the idea of the iPhone, yet he'd been consciously curbing his enthusiasm, especially around his father.

Given his father's role as the owner and chairman of KiShin, Shinichi was well aware that a single request could grant him immediate access to the iPhone, making him the envy of his peers. Yet, the thought of doing so sat uncomfortably with him.

Shinichi wrestled with the idea; to ask felt like admitting to being spoiled, a label he desperately wanted to avoid. He had made a promise to himself to forge his own path, to rely on his own efforts rather than the advantages his family's position could offer. This internal pledge made him hesitant, preferring to admire the iPhone from afar rather than compromise his principles.

---

In the days following the industry-wide tremor caused by KiShin's iPhone announcement, various cellphone companies convened meetings to decode the success behind the iPhone's features, functions, and the pioneering direction Shinro Suzuki had taken, especially in software and operating system development.

As these companies delved deeper into the realms of software and operating systems, trying to mirror the iPhone's groundbreaking approach, they stumbled upon a stark realization. The task of crafting software and operating systems for mobile devices was far more complex and challenging than they had initially anticipated. Contrary to their original assumption, they discovered that creating an intuitive, seamless operating system was just as daunting—if not more so—than engineering the physical components of a mobile device.

Amidst discussions, a lead developer of a company known for its coding prowess, affiliated to Motorola, shared his insights during a particularly tense meeting:

"Everyone, I need us to understand something critical," he began, pausing for effect, ensuring he had the room's full attention. "We've been approaching this from the angle that hardware is our biggest mountain to climb. But this iPhone, it's shifted the goalposts."

He sighed, running his hands through his hair in a rare display of frustration. "Developing an operating system, a good one, it's like building a city from scratch. You need the right infrastructure, utilities, roads—only in our case, it's the user interface, security protocols, and seamless integration with applications and services, just like the iPhone displayed."

The room fell silent, the weight of his words settling in.

"We're not just coding an application; we're architecting an entire ecosystem. It's about creating an environment where everything functions flawlessly together. And I'll be honest—this is an entirely different ballpark from what we're used to with hardware. It requires a shift in our thinking, our approach, and likely, our resources."

His confession laid bare the challenges they faced, highlighting the underestimated complexity of software and operating system development—a field where KiShin, led by the visionary Shinro, had evidently taken a significant lead.

It wasn't just the coding company working with Motorola that encountered these steep challenges. Companies across the board, from Suzuki to Tora and even giants like Samsung, all found themselves grappling with similar hurdles. It became increasingly clear that developing software and an operating system for a cellphone was not merely a task; it was a monumental endeavor.

Everywhere you looked, whether in the boardrooms of Suzuki or the development labs of Tora, the story was the same. Teams hunched over screens, poring over lines of code, faced the daunting realization that crafting a seamless, user-friendly mobile operating system was an incredibly complex journey. It required more than just technical skills; it demanded vision, creativity, and an intimate understanding of the user's needs.

From these shared struggles, a truth emerged: the task of bringing to life a mobile operating system that could stand toe-to-toe with KiShin's iPhone was a colossal undertaking, challenging some of the brightest minds in the industry. The path to creating something truly revolutionary was proving to be a difficult road, laden with technical and conceptual obstacles that tested the limits of even the most established cellphone brands.