Mobile Strategy 101 - An introduction to the Mobile World

The cell phone revolution is almost 30 years old and to say that it's had explosive growth throughout the years would be an understatement. The first transmitted cell phone call was recorded on October 13, 1983 using a phone that most of us wouldn't recognize as being a cell phone. These early phones were usually part of an automobile system with a trunk mounted radio system that was connected to the front dash control system (the actual phone handset). Satchel units soon followed (Indiana Jones carried one). These satchel units gave portability to the massive units that were once only trunk mounted. Not soon after the satchel units, Motorola introduced the DynaTAC Handheld unit. It was a two pound unit that resembled a brick that could be carried in an attaché case. While this may not have been the ideal situation The evolution toward the pocket phone had begun.

The early phones were very basic compared to the smart phones we have today. Make calls, receive calls. That's it. The screens on these early devices displayed the number that you were calling. No caller ID. No massive contact list. No clock. Nothing. Slowly, phones started gaining these features, as well as a few others like different ringtones, voice mail and basic games (I miss Snake) Then came text messaging, email, and undoubtedly the most important feature of any modern phone, internet capabilities. Having the internet available on cellphones is nothing new (my LG feature phone had it in 2004) but the way that it is being used, in conjunction with new smartphone hardware, is what is making the internet such a useful feature on today's smartphones. Smartphones, the internet, and GPS make it possible to find near by entertainment, restaurants, or points of interest. Smartphones help with all sorts of tasks that, in the past, a person would have had to go to the library to figure out.

The introduction of the iPhone and mobile applications was the day the mobile phone world changed. Mobile applications are the future of not only mobile phones but computing as a whole. Gone are the days of sitting at a desk to read emails, the days of reading a printed map are long behind us, even the ability to manage things like workflow, inventory and resources can be done on mobile devices. Rather than mobile devices being just a phone, a toy or a media consumption device, mobile devices are an integral part of our daily personal and business lives.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Monday I will be releasing part two of the three part series Mobile Strategy 101 - Mobile Applications and Businesses. As always, feel free to leave a few words in the comment section and make sure to check back next week for part two!

Click here for part 2 - Mobile Strategy 101 - Mobile Applications and Businesses