The Future of Mobile Technology: A Discussion With Charles Stack

I recently watched a video discussion on the future of mobile technology with Charles Stack, current CEO of iNomadics, the man credited with selling the first book over the Internet and a pioneer in e-commerce.  It was quite interesting and I’m going to outline my key takeaways from it.  Here is the full 40 minute discussion:

The Mobile Landscape Just 6 Months Ago

This was taped in May of 2009.  And reaching back across those 6 long months ago Charles had some very revealing statistics:

1) There are 4 billion+ mobile phones on the planet

2) Mobile Internet usage was up 500%

3) This accounted for half of the new internet connections being made.

Bottom line, people accessing the Internet over mobile is seeing explosive growth.

The New Paradigm

The new paradigm that we must understand that the rise of the mobile phone has created is this:

• Always There – mobile phones are almost always with us
• Always On – they’re always on, for many even throughout the night while it charges
• Location Aware – the biggy, it always knows where it is (and you)
• Touch – intuitive interface that relies on the most primal of human instincts
• Motion Control – goes along with the above
• Multimedia – this device can create and deliver virtually any form of media in common use; picture, text, and video

Charles’ main point here is that anytime there is a paradigm shift we must pay attention to the differences, for within all shifts are new opportunity.  Take any one of the above attributes of mobile phones and it’s not to hard to see the vast possibilities.  “People now have an electronic device on their person constantly?  Create tools that a person may need throughout their day.  These electronic devices know where they are in the world at all times?  Deliver information that is relevant to their surroundings…” etc.  You get the picture.  This represents an amazing change in the way people interact with the world.  I believe that Charles quipped that his son hardly speaks, but that he sends 1100 texts a week.  Clearly his son can communicate, but massive a shift has occurred.  It’s up to us how we respond.

The Future of  Mobile Phones Through Apps

Charles went on to categorize the types of uses he sees for mobile phones:

• Interstitials – basically time wasters, games etc.
• Memory Augmentation – Wikipedia, any online or offline resource we use to access information, be it personal or public
• Social Networking – social connection creation or maintenance
• Remote Operation – operating electronics remotely or accomplishing tasks from afar
• Mobile Presence – anyone who can benefit from a mobile presence, retailers, venues etc.
• Manufacturers – same as above
• Field Personnel – tools to optimize workers in the field, repairmen etc.
• Nomadic Tribes – basically independent workers, freelancers etc.

So that’s about it.  Very good discussion.  Where do you see the future of mobile technology headed?

Tags: "future cell phone technology", "what is android technology?", all, Android, android phone future, android talked time hours settings, Apple, apple future cell phone, apple future cell phone technology, biggy, cache:mboc0qgzf60j:blog.7touchgroup.com/2009/11/putting-suger-on-sht-doesnt-make-it-yummy/ android proximity sensor flash fm radio, Charles, Charles Stack, charles stack london, device, discussion, electronic device, explosive growth, futur of mobile technology 2009, Future, future development in mobile phones, future development of mobile phones, future developments mobile phones, future of mobile internet technologies, future of mobile phone, future of mobile phones, future of mobile technology, future technology, Google, history of mobile technology, history of mobile technology journal entries, human instincts, Internet, intuitive interface, Iphone, military mobile 007 processor, Mobile Marketing, mobile phone future developments, mobile phone new paradigm, Mobile Phones, Mobile Sofware Development, Mobile Sofware Development, mot, motion control, new paradigm, new paradigm growth dec 09, Paradigm, paradigm shift, person, Phone's, picture, Rim, shift, stack, takeaways, the "future of "phone technology", the future of mobile technology discussion, Video, what is android technology for telephones, World