Mobile internet usage will surpass desktop usage in the next 4 years.
Most people these days will never experience internet over a wire, and many have never used a conventional keyboard.
Tech cycles tend to last ten years. (1980s personal computing, 1990s desktop computing, 2000′s mobile internet computing). There are winners and losers in each cycle. The winners and losers for this mobile tech cycle have not been set yet.
Changing usage: mobile Facebook users are twice as active as desktop users, twitter comprises 50% of mobile users, 50% of Pandora’s listeners subscribe on mobile (add 3M/month).
What’s the next big thing? Mobile eCommerce. Soon we will be buying physical items on mobile just like software, probably even ordering pizza thru an app more often than calling anymore.
What do you want to accomplish? Content delivery (text or video), Distribute information (location, hours, etc), Build community (twitter, facebook, blogs), Mobile donation (in-app, links). IHOP in Kansas City is a great example of a multimedia app.
Where is your data? Much of your information will already be on servers. Things like navigation and functions for information processing can be on your mobile device, but it doesn’t need to contain all the information itself. API’s facing your mobile devices need to be mobile optimized.
Mobile optimized websites v mobile applications. Mow’s work across all mobile phones, they’re easier to manage and they’re good for outsiders. MA’s have a better user experience, they’re currently trending with consumers, and they’re good for insiders.
Even sites and services that aren’t currently apps will eventually be built to mimic an app-like experience.
In deciding to develop on mobile you have to choose your O/S (Google, Nokia, Apple, Rim, etc). As a whole Android has the largest global market share from a software standpoint. RIM is diminishing along with Palm. Apple has the largest manufacturer-side share because Android software market share is split between hardware companies like HTC, Samsung, Motorola, etc.
