We have all heard people say it. “They missed the boat on mobile”, “It is a good product but Apple and Samsung own the market.”, or “What else can possibly be done with cellphones? We have reached the maximum level of innovation possible!”

Whether we are talking about Windows Phone, BlackBerry, HTC, or any other mobile entity, the consensus is, it is just too late. The consensus is so ridiculously misguided.

For starters, just think about the state of mobile just a few years ago. Some of the dominant names included Nokia, Palm, HP (remember IPAQs?), Motorola, and other companies you would now call irrelevant. Look how fast things have changed.

Now let’s just agree on one thing before we proceed. It is much more difficult to enter the hardware game and make a difference, than play in the software arena. I mean, companies can create their own version of Android for example, or a custom keyboard for different platforms, and if the product is good enough, it may reach millions!

However, when it comes to hardware, can you imagine a totally unknown company taking on Apple, Samsung, LG, and Huawei? Impossible, right? Wrong!

Ever heard of the OnePlus One? No? Exactly! And yet, everyone is raving about this phone. No, not only because it retails off contract at half the price of some of the competitors. The OnePlus One is actually a fantastic piece of hardware and it does indeed compete with the likes of Apple and Samsung!

People are dying to get their hands on this phone and the company has an invite system in place. The press? They love it too! See Marques Brownlee, probably the world’s best video reviewer of mobile devices talk about the OnePlus One below. I will sum it up for you. He loves it and cannot find a flaw with the device that he could call a compromise!

So what does this mean for the rest of us? Well, whether you are in the hardware game or the software arena, innovate, execute, and build great products. It is never too late!

Please share your thoughts in the comments or on Twitter, Google+, or Facebook where we are always listening.