The hustle and bustle of CTIA 2013 has come to an end. But don’t despair, there is still much to talk about and we are not adhering to the popular phrase of what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. This year at CTIA, wireless wasn’t the only star; there were also Jennifer Lopez and Ashton Kutcher.
I attended the Ashton Kutcher keynote, and was pleasantly surprised by his knowledge of the wireless business. His understanding goes beyond just a Q&A; he has been investing in successful technology companies like Path, AirBnB, and Spotify. What I found interesting was his take on M2M or the “internet of things” and combining it with social media. What if your coffee machine could send you a tweet when your coffee is ready? I think Ashton Kutcher tapped into an interesting message for M2M, which is making it relevant to our everyday lives. The connected lifestyle is becoming a reality and adding social media brings a more accessible and dynamic approach to the growing trend in M2M developments.
But M2M wasn’t the only focus; mobile commerce also made the list. The rate of mobile commerce is steadily increasing, with 44% of Americans or one in two are more likely to purchase via mobile in 2013 compared to 2012. Even Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, is getting involved in mCommerce as their Global Head of Mobile, Gibu Thomas said” emphasis is on mobile tools that address customer needs above all else, allowing them to save time and money.” With people spending more time on their mobile devices, almost 40% of internet purchases are made on a mobile device and user are more likely to buy more. As nicely said in a recent whitepaper by ComScore, Mobile Future in Focus, with Smartphone surpassing 125 million in the US we have entered the Brave New Digital World, where consumers are always connected.
While roaming the CTIA floor I stumbled upon booths that used the mobile phone to translate languages, have your peer’s opinions shared on social media, and our own mobile solutions: NFC, the mobile wallet, and mobile health applications. What this led me to realize, however, is just how viable it is that your mobile phone and wireless technology using NFC can replace your keys, boarding pass, and your wallet. With a growing connected society, the mobile device is evolving into much more than a way of communication. I look forward to seeing what mobile solutions take shape in the years to come.
