When you’re going to head to head with entrenched competitors, it can seem impossible to unseat the top dog.

One way to change the game is to get all of the little guys together … using something that’s provided for free.

Consider how Google is working to change the game in mobile operating systems by introducing Android. Android is an open source mobile platform that can run a host of basic and third-party applications. Android is not Google’s version of the iPhone; it’s the software, itself, that runs on your mobile device. Qualcomm, Intel, Motorola, Sprint and many other big names in mobile technology have partnered with Google to develop Android applications.

In almost any industry, there are opportunities to help bring together smaller players to create a community … and also change the nature of competition. This same approach has created fierce competition for Microsoft (Firefox browsers, Linux Operating System).

When you’re thinking about how to change the rules of the game, consider how an open source mindset could shake things up … in a good way.