The so-called "ecosystem" concept may be one of Jobs' most lasting contributions to global business. The idea is simple: create a closed universe of hardware, software and services that -- thanks to tight integration -- provide a superior experience for users. Think iTunes, where users buy and listen to million of songs and albums, uploading them to an iPod or iPhone. The App Store functions much the same way for applications for Apple's idevices. Makers of everything from cars to video games now think of their businesses as attempting to establish such ecosystems.
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