How Mobile is Our Future?

You may not realize it—or the fact may have snuck up on you while you weren’t looking—but today there are far more smartphones out there than computers. There are currently an estimated 3 billion smartphones in use globally. Just to show the comparison, in 2017, the percentage of smartphone users accessing the internet was 63%, versus 37% by computer. There are even parts of the world that don’t even have computers but yet have mobile.

There are endless applications available for smartphones today. It’s not just a phone directory—that functionality is so common that you don’t even hear about it anymore. We’ve long gone beyond personal photos and music, and booking of trips. We have complex apps such as mobile banking, credit card scanning, project collaboration, and many more.

Generation 5

The first generation of smartphones only allowed you to call and to text. Each successive generation has brought increased functionality, such as higher bandwidth and the ability to send more complex data such as sound and video files. We’ve now reached the point of live streaming.

You might remember the first smartphones—the “flip phone.” Smartphone screens have gotten bigger and bigger, and today are almost 6.5 inches. The screen is now almost as large as that of the very first Macintosh computer. Of course, that screen was monochrome, and today screens are sharp rich color and are touchscreens. Smartphone 3D screens have now even become available.

We’re currently moving into the 5th generation of smartphones—5G—which incorporates the Internet of Things. We’re not simply communicating any more with smartphones, but including control of any smart-enabled devices such as home security, automobiles, and even appliances. Verizon already has a 5G network up and running in parts of the US, and it’s being tested in Europe. Changes are coming down the line with unbelievable speed.

Company Mobile Strategy Crucial

I predict that 5G is the next major fundamental move, and either you’re in or you’re out. A mobile strategy is crucial for every company because expectations for the future are what is currently on everyone’s phone.

At Pipeliner, we began our mobile strategy several years ago. We currently have the most advanced mobile CRM in the world today. We’re not only dedicated to mobile, but we’re working hard to remain the forerunners in this technology.

You can clearly see that the future is, indeed, completely mobile. The challenge for businesses and sales is and will continue to be, for mobile to work seamlessly with the whole system.

What further criteria will be needed for a for a business mobile strategy? It is this we will be exploring in this new series. Stay with us!