Haven't each of us wished at some point of time that we knew what the next big thing would be? Create the next Google or Microsoft...
So I was trying to guess what is the next big thing in the mobile technology space. First the handsets started getting smaller and sleeker. Now we are back to big screens and heavy instruments. For web pages to be legible on the handset we need big screens; ergonomic keypads so as to punch in long mails comfortably.
So I was trying to guess what is the next big thing in the mobile technology space. First the handsets started getting smaller and sleeker. Now we are back to big screens and heavy instruments. For web pages to be legible on the handset we need big screens; ergonomic keypads so as to punch in long mails comfortably.
The cause and affect is a little confusing. Did GPRS catch up for OEM's to change the handset designs or did mobile internet take off because the handsets supported it? Well either ways the question is not around what was but what will be?
The thing working for mobiles is its namesake - mobile. Mobility is what is the talk of the day - from desktops to laptops to mobiles. What we want is to carry everything we need in our pocket. So we are checking mails, accessing contacts and calendar, banking and even paying for goods and services with our mobile phone. This instrument plays multiple roles from a music player, camera, computer and wallet.
The increasing memory or screen resolution isn't going to be a USP forever. It will be all about applications. The app store has already caused an epidemic. Open APIs and open source applications have paved the way for technology to be exploited to the maximum. From recipes for your favourite dish to getting directions to the nearest wine store; there is an app for everything.
What is astonishing however is that no one is concentrating on enterprise applications. The need is obvious - my business has several people on the field trying to make a sale, fixing a problem or getting the specifications for a delivery to be made. Wouldn't it be great if I could convey the details real time to a system?
Before I leave my client's office the order is placed and processing has started. The time to delivery is reduced as the time lag between my reaching the office and logging the order is zilch.
Another scenario, my client in Delhi wants a demo of my latest product. I know that four of my sales staff are in Delhi region for various client meetings. I check their location through a GPS application, check their calendar to see if they are free and send them a message with the details of the call to be made. Now the sales guy can call dips and send a message to all the other sales reps updating his status.
There are about a million such applications that can be created to make life easier. However there is one big challenge with the mobile space - the lack of a standard platform. Every handset manufacturer uses a different technology. Even for the same OEM, the technology varies with handset models. Hence I have to port my application on a thousand different mobile platform for it to be a universal application.
My parting thoughts: the mobile handset manufacturers must look at standardizing platforms so as to promote their cause unless they want to develop or port every application in-house. Vertical integration is in my opinion not a viable solution. Hence a standardized platform is the need of the hour for the next big thing to hit us.
