Mobile Technology

I would like to focus this week’s response around the future of the mobile market and mobile technology. I believe, similarly to Microsoft as shown by their billion-dollar investment, that the mobile market is unequivocally going to continue to grow by leaps and bounds. No matter how technology continues to grow all new advancements are going to need an applicable mobile interface. Five to ten years ago businesses were worried about launching web sites and designing their web interface. In today’s market a clean, crisp web site is standard and business are trying to determine how they can best “mobilize” their goods and services.

Mobile technology has also created a 24-hour workday in the business world. As we discussed in class information is power, and information is not always created between 9am-5pm Monday through Friday. Mobile devices have made it easy for employers to reach their employees with critical information at any time of the day. Furthermore, it mobile technology has shrunk the idea of the “work computer” into the palm of your hand, allowing employees to not just receive information but to act upon it immediately. The importance of the constant and instant contact created by mobile devices can be exemplified by the fact that most large companies issue and pay for their employees smart phones because of the flow information mobile devices generate.

When looking to the future, there is no exact way to predict where mobile technology is going. However, there are a few trends that still have lots or room for expansion. The first I want to discuss GPS based social media. While some may cringe at the though of broadcasting your location at all times, the application of GPS based social interaction is continuing to grow on the backs of GPS enabled smart phones. The second growing technology is the mobile video chat. Although video conferencing has become prevalent in today’s business world, there is a certain amount of equipment required for it to work. The future of video conferencing will be in every individual’s hand removing the need for designated video conference rooms or times. Soon every business call could be face to face.