Mobile computing is already making a huge impact in society, why? Because as points out “one great thing about mobile devices is how they appeal to both personal and professional users” Microsoft's Bill Mitchell, vice president, mobile platforms division stated “Market research indicates that mobile computing is growing 15 percent more than computing in general.” Big businesses are gearing up to bring mobile computing to a new level. Major computing businesses such as Microsoft, Intel, IBM and telephone companies Nokia, Ericsson and Motorola Inc are not only researching and developing their own devices and improvements in mobile computing but are also joining together to promote it. (Phillips Business Information's Communications Standards News, 1999) stated thatThe five founding companies of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group - Ericsson, IBM Corporation, Intel Corporation, Nokia and Toshiba Corporation - announced on December 1 at their Santa Clara meeting that 3Com Corporation, Lucent Technologies, Microsoft Corporation and Motorola Inc. will join them to form the Promoter group of the Bluetooth SIG. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) was formed in 1998 and wishes to revolutionise connectivity for personal and business mobile devices. Goals for the future Intel and Microsoft have firmly expressed their views on where they believe the future of mobile computing is. Microsoft is pushing for ultra mobile computing and according to “Microsoft's newest mission is pushing for a Mobile PC for every person. These are not run-of-the-mill laptops or desktop replacements. Microsoft is aiming for broad, general acceptance of a whole new category of carry-everywhere, always-connected computing devices with batteries that last all day long.” Battery power is a major point for the future of mobile computing. For truly useful mobile devices you need them to last all day and Microsoft and Intel are both putting a lot of effort into achieving this outcome. Intel’s plans for the future include improving four key requirements in their mobile devices. These being: “integrated wireless LAN capability, breakthrough mobile performance, extended battery life and thinner, lighter designs.” (M2 Presswire, 2003) Intel have an agreement with “Matsushita Battery Industrial (MBI) to jointly develop more powerful battery technology to support the vision for "all-day computing" for future Intel Centrino(TM) mobile technology-based platforms.” (M2 Presswire 2005) Intel believe that adoption of wireless broadband services coupled and new energy-efficient and higher- performing developments in mobile devices are signalling the beginning of "mobility ubiquity" according to Intel's top executive responsible for mobile computing. This mobile ubiquity offers the industry substantial new growth opportunities. (M2 Presswire 2005) Microsoft has identified for itself the next 3 factors that it wishes to overcome so they can progress forward into the future, the factors they wish to over come are “form factors, battery life and time to access.” (Techweb, 2005)
From this we can conclude that the mobile computing industry will have an even greater impact on our daily lives. Already presented with so many possibilities, and with more coming every year the industry is booming. Big company’s are putting a lot of time and money into the production and research of mobile computing and for the moment it looks set to carry on sweeping the way with new innovative connect ability and performance. The future of mobile computing looks set upon longer battery life, power efficiency, performance and power innovation. References
- Bayne, K.M. (2002). Marketing Without Wires. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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- Microsoft Corp. (2005, April 26). Microsoft pushes ultra mobile computing. TechWeb, 1, Retrieved May 15, 2005, from ProQuest Database
- Maloney, S. (2005). INTEL: Innovation in mobility, ubiquitous wireless broadband to drive opportunity. M2 Presswire, 1, Retrieved May 20, 2006, from ProQuest Database
- Chandrasekher, A, (2003, September 17). INTEL: Innovation in mobility, ubiquitous wireless broadband to drive opportunity. M2 Presswire, 1, Retrieved May 20, 2006, from ProQuest Database
- (1999, December 20) Bluetooth technology set to re-define the personal communications market. Phillips Business Information's Communications Standards News, 1, Retrieved May 20 2006, from ProQuest Database
- No author. (2002). Wireless and mobile computing. Department of Information Resources. Retrieved May 15, 2005 from http://www.dir.state.tx.us/pubs/wireless/wireless.htm