8 Mobile Technologies To Watch

[KRISARU.com]

Research firm Gartner unveiled its list of mobile technologies to
watch in the next two years, and the list places a heavy emphasis on
things that will soon be integrated into smartphones.

The report, entitled "Eight Mobile Technologies To Watch In 2009 And
2010," said Bluetooth 3.0 will have a significant impact. Right now,
the majority of consumers use Bluetooth to pair wireless headsets, but
the next generation will have higher transfer capabilities and lower
power usage. Gartner said this will enable a new class of devices and
applications for segments such as health monitoring.

Cellular broadband and the mobile Web will play a large role in the
next two years, Gartner said, and carriers have already seen an
explosion in traffic with popular devices like Apple's iPhone 3G and
the BlackBerry Storm. This trend is expected to continue, as carriers
like AT&T (NYSE: T) and T-Mobile are striving to expand their 3G
networks, and Sprint (NYSE: S) has already begun the rollout of the 4G
WiMax network.

With more and more handsets having built-in GPS chipsets, location-
based features will become a key component of next-generation
applications. Consumers are already seeing elements of this popping
up, as shown by the Android app Locale, which senses where a user is
and adjusts the ring settings of the phone accordingly. This type of
location-centric application will become the norm, Gartner said, but
organizations and application creators need to be aware that it could
create new privacy and security concerns.

Mobile banking has seen success if places like Japan, but it's still
in its infancy in the United States. This is expected to change, and
Gartner sees Near Field Communication as a way to get consumers more
comfortable with mobile banking and payment. This technology enables a
customers to make purchases by swiping their NFC-enabled phone near a
special reader, and Nokia (NYSE: NOK) has already released a handset
that's capable of being used as a mobile wallet.

Most top-of-the-line smartphones in the next few years will have a
similar set of features that include cellular broadband, Wi-Fi access,
messaging, and Web browsing. This places an increasingly important
emphasis on the user interface, Gartner said. Apple's iPhone 3G has
been a sales hit partially due to its smooth and visually appealing
UI, and competitors will be paying attention to the UI to
differentiate handsets. But it's not just about being pretty, as a
better interface can make the mobile Web and applications more
accessible to consumers.

That improved user interface would also stand out with improved
display technology, Gartner said. Handsets like the HTC Touch HD
already sport a high-definition resolution, and the research firm said
it expects customers to be drawn to better screen technology like pico
projectors and passive displays.

But not every mobile technology of note will be directly tied to
smartphones, Gartner said. The firm sees 802.11n as a disruptive
technology that should be considered by any company equipping new
offices or upgrading their wireless networks. While it require new
access points, client wireless interfaces, and backbone networks,
Gartner sees the investment as prudent because it can enable a truly
unwired enterprise.

The 802.11n standard is the first Wi-Fi technology to offer
performance on par with 100-Mbps Ethernet, but many questions remain
about costs, legacy equipment, and security. InformationWeek examined
the risks and benefits of 802.11n for a business, and the report can
be found here (registration required). Source : InformationWeek.com