The Future of Mobile Phones is in the Apps

The network solutions company, Juniper, is anticipating 60 percent growth in the next couple of years due to its cloud computing strategy and focus on telecommunications service providers.

Juniper knows that internet users will start looking past devices, gadgets or hardware. Focus will be on services and gadgets will have to “learn” how to interact with each other in order to allow users a seamless data experience.

The future of mobile business is not about mobile phones. It’s about the user and how they expect data services to serve them, regardless of where they are and what device they are using.

Smartphone Penetration is Growing

By the end of 2012, smartphone sales internationally will grow 25 percent. That is 472 million in 2011 to 630 million.

The key is in evolution of smartphones itself. Just a few years back, Blackberry was the only smartphone accepted in the corporate world. Now, iPhones and Androids have replaced most of Blackberry’s market share. Maravedis anticipates that over 50 percent of smartphones will be Android OS, 18 percent will be iPhone, 13 percent will be Windows and 12 percent will be Blackberry.

Mobile Phones as Data Silos

When Google introduced the Chromebook last year, one message was clear. Google wants us to rely on the cloud. Programs, files, applications and media are all browser based and in the cloud.

Chrome is not the only browser that synchs with the cloud for contacts, emails, bookmarks, and even games. However, all of these browsers still have to store user information on the hardware itself. Chrome OS does not. Everything is in the cloud which allows people to log in to any device and access all their files, applications, media, and information.

Mobile Phones as Apps Multiplier

Appcelerator and IDG determined that 84 percent of smartphone users are using cloud-based services. The majority of this is primarily pushed by popular social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and even Skype. These sites create mobile versions of their sites allowing users to log in and use the service seamlessly.

However, growth of apps supplements is coming fast. For example, there is an app that allows a user to access any data of file from his phone and send it through Dropbox with only a couple of clicks.

There is also an app that allows a user to access files on his desktop and other data through a mobile phone.

These apps are making carrying laptops unnecessary. Everything can now be put in the cloud and accessed through the phone.

Mobile Phone as Unifier of Fragmented Devices

Development of intelligent technologies such as HTML 5 is making it possible and easier for developers to create applications and services that operates across all platforms. It is also minimizing problems such as latency as it allows data caching. Unstable internet connection is becoming less of a problem. CND or Content Delivery Network is also allowing dynamic re-routing of traffic based on user location (read our review on CloudFare).

This development has motivated more people to own multiple devices. There’s the desktop in the office, laptop for personal use, tablet for external meetings, and now, a smartphone. The mobile phone seems the one poised to unify all devices. Desktops and laptops are most likely going to be left in the office or homes and tablets are still considered “not quite a laptop, not quite a phone”. Mobile phones are the ones that’s capable of doing everything personal computer can do.

So, What’s the Future

The future of mobile phones is in the clouds. It’s not about providers anymore. It’s not about the features of the phone. It will be about that mobile phones are becoming the primary computer of everyday’s life. Development should be made to allow for seamless integration with other devices and overcome latency limitations.