I can’t believe how many announcements we are getting from the large IT players: First Google buying Motorola, then HP deciding to kill its HP TouchPad.  I just read news from Wall Street Journal that he is resigning as CEO of Apple and taking the role of Chairman of the Board if the board accepts that. I am sure that will happen. According to CNN, Steve Jobs sent a letter of resignation to the Apple’s board with following statement:

“I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come,” wrote Jobs, who has been on medical leave since January. Cook has been filling in as the company’s leader.

The question that everyone will now have is what Apple will be when Steve Jobs no longer runs the day-to-day business. Some might say that nothing and Tim Cook that will take the CEO role will be doing what he was doing before. However, there is no question in my mind that Steve Jobs is and has been the visionary for the company and there will be a change at least in the long term.

When I look back at very successful software/hardware companies, there has always been a strong leader with almost ruthless and dedicated desire to win the game. Look at Apple and what happened to the company when Steve left long time ago: it was almost bankrupted. There are several books that tell this story such as “The Second Coming of Steve Jobs” by Alan Deutschman.

I am listening to CNBC when writing this blog entry and according to the analysts; Steve Jobs was never the one that has executed on operational level that has been Tim Cook.  The question that I have is whether Apple will be coming with new things as they have with Apple iPhone, iPad etc. According to the CNBC, the stock has lost 5% of its value afterhours.

Tim Cook isn’t Steve Jobs and the other way around. The question that the CNBC is asking whether Tim Cook is the right guy to lead: he came from an IBM operational role to help Apple to run operations smoothly. Only time will tell how Apple will continue on its path and the market is in shock as this could be the end where Steve Jobs and his presentations are over.

What is this going to do for the mobility and tablet market? The questions that the market will have is whether Apple will be able to continue on its iPhone and iPad success or will the market become suspicious whether the ecosystem and the devices will be able to compete. I do not like to speculate specifically as this has probably to do with Jobs illness, but this could be a major break for the competitors to gain some momentum at least on the long term. The market will be in disarray for a while even if CNBC says that Steve Jobs has mapped the devices/software and strategy for years to come. However, when you look at the current mobility and tablet market, it is in flux and any player can take over in matter of months. Just look at Android and how it is taking market share from Apple iPhone and others.

I expect there to be more announcements in the mobility/tablet market during the fall. No question about it.