3. Mobile heads for the cloud
The surge in the popularity of mobile applications – in large part due to the success of Apple’s App Store – has prompted a rethink on the optimal method by which apps can be delivered to end-users.
The emergence of cloud-based platforms- where thin clients reside on the handset and data is processed and stored primarily in the cloud- will be bolstered by the open standards BONDI OneAPI initiative and HTML5.
Increasingly, mobile IT resources – such as storage, platforms and software – will be sold and packaged as services on an on-demand basis. The model also presents a substantial opportunity for developers, who will be able to develop apps which are portable across mobile devices.
4. New category of smartbooks to emerge
Juniper believes that Smartbooks will create a new category of device, falling between smartphones and netbooks. Unlike a netbook however, the smartbook will be 3G+/HSDPA enabled, always on and have an impressive all-day battery life.
If they are cheaper than netbooks, as expected, they will be even more popular. The advantage over smartphones is clear- the larger screen and keyboard alone should make the internet and entertainment experience much more compelling.
With the imminent launch of new smartbook devices from vendors such as Lenovo, and a possible launch from Apple, the industry is poised to make a big push into this segment. Qualcomm in particular has pronounced that smartbooks are “The smartest way to be mobile”. Smartbooks are likely to find a rich seam in 2010.