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Will 4GWE Change the Way We Communicate?

TMCnews Featured Article


December 21, 2009

Will 4GWE Change the Way We Communicate?

By Susan J. Campbell, TMCnet Contributing Editor


Applications are in huge demand and for many, are a draw to the network. As with all technology, however, these applications must evolve to remain competitive. According to Jeffrey Sass, vice president, business development at Myxer, applications are a simple front end to the capabilities of handsets and the mobile Web.

 
One of the biggest challenges of mobile networks is getting consumers to use all the capabilities of their phones and their networks. With applications, mobile has finally become something to which consumers can adapt. As 4GWE emerges, Sass said that mobile networks are ideally suited to provide the full flexibility consumers want, but to do so need to be open to all content and services and all business models.
 
In an interview with TMCnet’s Carl Ford, Sass shared his belief that we haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of devices that can and will benefit from being connected in a 4G world. There is a mountain of opportunity in connected devices we have yet to uncover. When asked about how social networking will impact work lives, Sass said it fits so well with mobile devices because of the human connection element of the technology platform. Sass said consumers do not care about MIMO, OFDM, WiMAX or LTE (News - Alert) as long as they can access the network and getting the coverage and level of service they need.
 
If he were to assume the role of president of the United States, Sass would be very much in favor of a truly open mobile network. As for areas of 4G growth in the next few years, Sass believes the better and more available the networks, the more satisfied the customers who will then consume the content they want.

Their conversation follows:
 
Carl Ford: Applications are all the rage in the marketplace, and they’re helping sell consumers on today's network. How should we expect applications to evolve as network broadband expands?
 
Jeffery Sass (pictured below): In many respects, applications are essentially a simple front end to the capabilities of handsets and the mobile Web. One of the greatest challenges of the mobile networks, even as data capabilities and broadband has increased, has been consumer behavior and getting people to actually use all the capabilities of their phones and the networks. Applications have finally presented “mobile” in a way consumers find easy to adapt to. Mobile needs to be easy and simple, which is something Myxer has focused on from the beginning and good applications will continue the trend.

CF: 4GWE is all about how customers’ adoption of technology is changing the network. What critical issues do you foresee for network operators?
 
JS: Consumers want to do what they want, when they want, where they want. Mobile networks are ideally suited to provide this, however to truly serve the marketplace they need to be open to all content and services, and all business models, from companies large and small.

CF: Barnes & Noble has now joined the e-reader business and Garmin (News - Alert) has added new networking solutions. What devices do you expect to join the 4G world?

JS: I think we haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of devices that can and will benefit from being “connected” in a 4G world. E-Readers, GPS devices, cars themselves, picture frames, refrigerators, cameras, projectors, televisions, radios and countless things we haven’t yet imagined the benefits of connectivity yet will soon all be touching the network. This will present new and exciting opportunities for companies like Myxer who manage content discovery and delivery to mobile devices.
 
CF: Social networking is a large part of consumers’ use of their smartphones. How should we expect it to impact our work lives?

JS: Social networking facilitates a core human behavior, which is to stay connected and in touch with family, friends, business associates and customers. Social networking fits so well with mobile devices because we want to touch these connections many times throughout our daily routines, and our smartphones are a logical and convenient focal point to do so. Plus, the “short burst” form of status updates and comments so prevalent in Social Networking is a great fit for mobile, where you are less likely to write lengthy communications.
 
CF: WiFi led the way into MIMO and OFDM, and WiMAX (News - Alert) and LTE are now alternate methods of adoption of these technologies. How should we classify the technologies? Are they competitive, complimentary or serving separate requirements?

JS: From a consumer’s point of view it doesn’t matter. All consumers cares about is can they access the network (really, the Internet) and are they getting the coverage and level of service they need? The consumer wants pervasive access to the internet from their devices. The technology or platform that can deliver it where and when they want it is the one that will succeed.
 
CF: If you were president of the United States, what tech-friendly policies would you enact?
 
JS: I would be very much in favor of a truly open mobile network as we have come to expect from the Internet, and I would love to figure out a practical way for there to be nationwide (and ideally free or low cost) broadband wireless access to it.
 
CF: What are some of the areas of 4G you’re expecting to grow in the next few years?
 
JS: As a popular Web and mobile web destination for mobile entertainment, from Myxer’s point of view the better and more available the networks are the better for us as it is easier for our 28 million (and growing) users to access and consume the content they want.
 
CF: Please give me one outrageous prediction pertaining to our markets for 2010.
 
JS: Instead of a chicken, Google (News - Alert) puts an ad-subsidized Nexus One phone and Chrome Netbook in everyone’s pot.
 
CF: Talk to me specifically about your presentation at the 4G Wireless Evolution conference. What kinds of people or companies should come to your session?
 
JS: My panel is on mobile applications, and I will be focused on being agnostic and supporting apps across multiple operating systems (iPhone, Android (News - Alert), Blackberry, WebOS, etc) and ways to leverage sites like Myxer to promote and distribute your app targeted to the right OS and in ways to help the app rise above the clutter. Brands and app developers should come in drove).
 
To find out more about Jeffrey Sass and Myxer, visit the company at the 4GWE Conference. To be held Jan. 20 to 22 in Miami and collocated with ITEXPO East 2010, the 4GWE Conference will focus on the realities of deploying 4G technologies and delivering broadband wireless applications to a growing community of wireless broadband consumers. SPEAKER is speaking during “Lessons in Application Development.” Don’t wait. Register now.


Susan J. Campbell is a contributing editor for TMCnet and has also written for eastbiz.com. To read more of Susan’s articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Amy Tierney







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