Mobility replacing PCs

That mobile devices are more prevalent than traditional PCs (desktops and laptops) is well known. But a recent talk at Davos highlighted just how much more important the mobile device will become during the next decade. Notes taken from the TechCrunch report

Eric Schmidt (Google CEO):

¨Mobile devices will have GPS and other features that will allow for new kinds of applications, as well as location-based advertising¨

Wang Jianzhou (China Mobile CEO):

¨If someone doesn't have a mobile phone they will lack the basic functions of what it is to be human¨

Now you can argue the CEO of a mobile phone company would make that sort of comment. But the numbers in China are sooo big - 317 million subscribers today and adding 6 million new subscribers each month!

If you've never read it, there is a great book that highlights the impact that mobile technology can have on society - Smart Mobs: The Next Social Revolution, by Howard Rheingold. Getting a little old now, given it was published back in 2002, but some great examples

References:

• Super Panel at Davos: The Future of Mobile Technology (TechCrunch, Jan 08)
• Smart Mobs: The next social revolution, by Howard Rheingold (my book summary)

Filed under: Mobility (new library topic)

Technorati tags: mobile technology