"The Future Ain’t What It Used To Be"

And with that great quote, Yogi Berra once again provided perspective for all of us trying to get a grasp of where it’s all headed. Our rapidly changing technology and its impact on media (and our lives) is moving at breakneck speed.  But even with all this change, there are certain trends that are undeniable. 

Recently, MobiTV created a huge infographic that does a great job of summing up mobile’s past, present, and future.

You can look at the entire infographic here, but the part that really caught my eye was the look down the road – in fact, the not-too-distant future of mobile’s trajectory.

So I pulled out the piece you see below.  It shows how mobile will have an even more incredible impact on our personal and professional lives in the next few years. 

In the near term, half the U.S. should be carrying around a smartphone by the end of this year.  Our own tech surveys tell us just how powerful this stat is.  In our recent Public Radio Tech Survey 3, for example, we juxtaposed smartphone owners and standard cell phone users.  And the contrasts are staggering.  In every dimension – besides talking – the smartphone group does everything more often.

In less than three years, the prediction is that 76 billion apps will be downloaded, generating more than $35 billion in revenues.  While smartphone owners love new stuff and breakthrough apps, it is also true that some of the most popular apps have been built by existing brands – brands that users know and trust.

But the app development process is challenging - believe me.  Just creating an app is not what this opportunity is all about.  A great mobile strategy is required.  

And think about this projection: By 2020, more people will use the Internet via mobile phones than with computers.  That says a lot about how we’ll be living our lives and doing business.  Our smartphones will do it all, functioning as e-wallets, allowing us to make purchases, board planes, and do just everything else.

(Of course, this morning I bought a cup of coffee at Starbucks with my iPhone, and then used it to board my plane home.)

Wonder what kind of smartphone Yogi carries.

Thanks to Chris Brogan for recently tweeting about this infographic. 

Comments

[Links of London]

I pulled out the piece you see below. It shows how mobile will have an even more incredible impact on our personal and professional lives in the next few years.