To boldly go   

(Yes we know it’s a split infinitive, but it’s become a kind of design classic, so, though it might not be to everyone’s taste, no letters to the editor please.)

Guess the next big thing. This kind of game is fun.  You can spend hours debating the answer, but by the time the future arrives everyone has forgotten who said what.  That makes it quite difficult to lose, unless you’re the person who has to back their opinion with cold, hard cash.

So far your mobile phone plays music and games, sends pictures and videos, and we still manage to get in the odd call and text message too. Here we give you some insight to what’s hot and what’s not at the moment.  Why not let us know if you agree.

Mobile internet

For years the internet on a mobile phone has been tipped for the top.  WAP was going to do everything including solve global warming and save the universe. But it hasn’t materialised. Yet.  With the advent of 3G, changes in phone screen designs and changes to the charging structure for data transfers, the mobile internet revolution stands a better chance than ever before.

If you’d like some evidence that this time it’s for real: 3 have just relaunched their service with Yahoo, Ebay, Skype and Windows Messenger.  And their relaunch is trumped by Vodafone, spending an eye popping £3.2million in advertising to promote their mobile internet partnered with online super powers like google, my space, YouTube and PriceRunner.  Vodafone joins O2, T-Mobile and Orange with fixed rate data packages.

Web 2.0

Communities of user generated content are springing up online all over the place. As mobile phones have become the ubiquitous channel of personal communication it really is the natural home for social communities.  You can see the partners for Vodafone and 3 include YouTube and my space - it could actually be web 2.0 fuelling the mobile internet revolution.

Email vs Text

The demarcation between devices is beginning to blur, your phone can already take photos and play music, so the line between text messages and email is beginning to look a bit silly.  You can pick up your email from your mobile already, it’s just not particularly slick.  Unless you have a blackberry in which case, you’re already part of the future. Everybody else, stand ready.

Security

We live in an increasingly paranoid world. Even when it’s not international terrorism on the panic radar, it’s phishing or identity theft.  As the use of mobile banking and mobile payments increases, the security of the channel will come under scrutiny just like online.

Rapide supply groundbreaking secure SMS messaging. Information moving between the supplier and receiver is encrypted - which sounds very James Bond, but it's actually really simple to use and most importantly makes the data completely confidential by accessing the information using a PIN.

Call us if you’d like more information about secure SMS texts on 02476 011 911

Video

The advent of 3G offered the mobile equivalent of broadband for your mobile, introducing new services like streaming video direct to your handset.  So far, so groovy. But with mobile audiences failing to take to MMS in a massive way, what’s the chance of video storming ahead? First there has be a critical mass of 3G phones available to make services economic to provide and with screens tailored to display this kind of service. Squinting at a one inch square screen hardly showcases this kind of technology.  Secondly, there has to be customer demand for the service offered, at a price they’re willing to pay.

Much to the disappointment of the networks, who have paid a kings ransom for the privilege of a 3G licence, it looks like this one will happen eventually, but it’ll be a very slow burner.


Click here to forward this article to a friend >>
Click here to return to the front page >>