What Captain Kirk, Batman and the Justice League know about Opening the Mobile Web at WIP Jam Sessions

We’ve asked our speakers and sponsors to provide some blog fodder as a lead up to Mobile Jam on September 12.

Steve McDonnel Steve McDonnell, the Global Alliance Manager, Strategic Platforms & Internet Technologies at Motorola has a few things to say about how the mobile web is going to open up:

There are so many people talking about widgets and mobile web today and is it really any wonder? I remember watching TV shows where the characters (Captain Kirk, Batman and the whole Justice League, for example) had access to the types of communication devices that are only now becoming a real possibility. I’m not optimistic about driving a jet car any time soon, but I’m pretty close to having a gadget that will surpass Kirk’s communicator, (GPS and voice, big deal.)

Why is mobile web so exciting, and why are widgets making the whole thing more real for so many people, here’s what I think.

Mobile is the most personal, immediate and convenient way to access the web

· Personal - A consumers phone is possibly the most uniquely personal computing device they own

· Always with the user - Instantly accessible

· The only always-on mass media

Today’s the web experience on mobile is like the Internet circa 1997

· Mobile browsing is not living up to user expectations

· Without widgets, users need to actively search to find exactly what they need

· Once there, many pages are static

· Or there is limited information on a small screen, so they need to scroll or search further

Consumers are demanding a better mobile web experience.

We don’t have to open up the mobile web, consumers will do that, 25% of all mobile phone users around the world access the internet on their phones, a staggering 825 million people (Real Networks, 2007). Paid content on mobile is already $31.3 Billion globally…greater than Hollywood or video games. Consumers are demanding a better mobile web experience.

Widgets and web applications provide consumers the mobile internet experience they want, reducing friction on the way to getting the information and services they’re looking for.

Agree or disagree? Steve will be on the UnPanel #1 - Opening the Mobile Web. Give him more to think about by providing your comments!

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2 Responses to “What Captain Kirk, Batman and the Justice League know about Opening the Mobile Web”

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1 Andy
September 4, 2008 at 10:19 am

Good stuff, Steve.

How about traditional Web developer types? How do they help usher in the new mobile web? Obviously, content is king, here, but how should that content be altered to accommodate the mobile client?

Thanks!
2 Jack Duncan
September 17, 2009 at 8:48 am

Good points, Steve!
I wonder what it will be like in ten years? If the web is any indication, we aren’t even seeing the tip of the proverbial iceburg yet.
Just the thought of: “The only always-on mass media” boggles the mind.

Those who adopt early have a significant advantage. Those who wait will have a difficult time catching up.

Think about the next “Next Generation” and what we will dream tomorrow.