Imaginings

The thing I love most about the mobile industry is the fact that it continues to prove people wrong.

There were times (and some still live in those times) where we couldn't fathom all the things that we now do with our mobile phones.

Imagine a world where I can make phone calls from anywhere, with NO wires.
Imagine a world where I can send messages to my friends without having to ring and disturb them.
Imagine checking the weather, movie times and bus timetables when I'm out with friends.
Imagine doing my emails on the train to work without having to unfold my laptop.
Imagine having one device in my pocket that can play my music, take photos, surf the internet, make phone calls and show me on a map where I am and where to go.

Madness I tell you, madness.

What about watching the news or other TV programs, live without having to be in front of my TV
What about messaging my friends in real-time instead of asynchronous messages back and forward
Buying things with my phone instead of carrying a wallet
Checking my bank balance without going to a cash-machine
Projecting a screen and keyboard from my phone instead of carrying a laptop

GSM connections took 12 years to reach 1 billion, a further 2.5 years to reach 2 billion and 22 months to grow to 3 billion. That is the fastest growth of any industry, ever.

Where will we be in 10 years?

So Long CDMA

An event this auspicious can't be left without mention. Today is the day that Telstra will close its CDMA network.

Australia is finally joining most mobile operators in the world in using GSM (or officially WCDMA) technology to deliver their network, rather than CDMA which is used in very few markets (less than 14% of the total mobile phones users in the world are on CDMA).

Former CDMA users will see major benefits in better technology evolution and access to a better range of handsets at more competitive prices. Telstra will see the benefits of harmonising its platforms and the whole mobile eco-system will benefit from the Next G technology which is a major evolution in mobile data services.

Coverage issues for regional users will plague Telstra for some time, as will handset availability because of the 850mhz spectrum being used (see earlier posts) but even those issues can't stop progress.

Morphing Mobiles

Checkout Nokia Morph http://www.nokia.com/A4852062

Its a concept Nokia has developed using nanotechnology which allows a mobile device to change shape.....it may be a glimpse into the future or it may just be another crazy idea with no legs, you decide.