Remote access and more specific wireless applications will be
key drivers for wireless industry growth in the next decade.
Accompanying this phenomenal growth are substantial opportunities
for those mobile operators, equipment manufacturers,
and developers that can answer end users’ demand for customized
value-added services, applications, and content. With
the convergence of communications and computing evolving
into the next generation, 2.5G and 3G wireless broadband
companies, service providers, devices manufacturers, and content
developers are focused on identifying and developing the
“Killer App.”
It’s important to clarify the difference between wireless
Internet access or transport and wireless applications. Access
or transport is simply a wireless connection to the Internet that
allows users to access the same content and applications they
would from a fixed-wire connection. Wireless access adds value
to users of those laptop PCs that are capable of displaying and
running applications that have been designed for PCs. This
type of wireless access allows many new methods of conducting
business in places that do not have wired connections available
such as remote job sites, airports, and in cars.
Whereas mobility adds value to the Internet, not everyone
would consider a laptop to be the most convenient mobile
device to carry with them. Size and weight are important to
mobility and therefore smaller devices are more suited to
mobile usage although not as capable for running applications
designed for the large screens, abundant processing, and large
storage enjoyed by the typical personal computer.
Smaller devices such as smart cellular phones and PDAs
are much easier to carry and are small enough to fit into a
pocket or purse with little difficulty. Small size is great for
mobility but not so good when it comes to using and viewing
applications made for PCs. For the wireless customer, gateways
and middleware players are being developed to enable content
from traditional Web sites to be usable and viewable on wireless
devices. Vertical applications are being developed that are
specific to users’ wireless needs. Many of these new information
content services and applications are specifically tailored
to a fast-paced, mobile lifestyle that provides for accessibility
anytime, anywhere.
The Wireless Internet enables applications to fulfill the
needs or desires of end-users with a variety of smaller devices.
And although these devices have “access” or connectivity to the
Internet, it’s the applications that make the difference.
Consumers do not care or need to know how underlying
communication and Internet technology networks function or
be further confused with various standards; they just care that
an application does what they want. An enormous amount of
marketing research has been conducted to better understand
what content is useful and which applications can best display
and interact with this content. Progress has been made in wireless
application development but much more is yet to be done
to truly understand how to provide value to users of wireless
devices.
APPLICATION AND SERVICE CATEGORIES
There will be no single “killer application” for Wireless Internet
service because there are many high-value user applications.
These services includes:
• Personalized communications
• News and information
• Entertainment and lifestyle
• Location-based services
• Access and connectivity services 133