The annual 3GSM World Congress concluded yesterday with enough to keep anyone involved in the mobile phone industry on their toes. The biggest mobile industry event was quite unlike the calm nature of this year’s CES. In fact, it would be safe to say that it was more like MacWorld in the sense that visitors were excited, happy, and drooling at the mouth at the sight of their mobile future.
Simply put, the coming months should present some more than nifty gadgets.
The focus of 3GSM was discussing and coming to terms with mobile technology. Symposiums titled “Defining the next technology evolution” and “Are Standards and their Development Failing the Industry?” were the hot topics. It seems that the mobile industry is doing exactly what the big 4 record companies won’t. They are embracing the leaps in mobile technology and making the consumer desire their product. They are focusing on content! They are figuring out how to appeal to mass markets and it must be like salt in an open wound for the record companies
But aside from the attitude of the mobile industry, many products were debuted at the 3GSM. Microsoft unveiled its new software platform called Mobile 6. It might not be as pretty to look at as LG’s KE770…aka…the “shiny candy-bar” (a name contrived by mobile-review.com), but Mobile 6 has some attractive features as well.
Basically, the Mobile 6 software (codename “crossbow”) is as close to a pocket computer as anyone can get…at least for the next half-year or so but nonetheless. One of the new attributes of this software is the Microsoft applications that are offered. Full PC versions Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are included which means that when you get that hankering to create a spreadsheet in the car, you can! Easy synchronization with calendars and date books is a given. What came as a surprise to me though was a new security feature that allows all data on the phone to be deleted in the event that your device is lost or stolen. Pretty handy considering the growing rates of identity theft.
I know what you might be thinking. Does the Mobile 6 software work at its greatest potential only with the seemingly quiet Windows Vista? Although no one knows for sure because it won’t be made public for a few months, it might be the case. According to mobiletechnews.com, “Windows Vista and the Windows Mobile Device Center take the guesswork out of managing a device and swapping music, pictures, movies and Outlook information between PC and the device.” So a YES to that question wouldn’t you say?
This compatibility with Vista is obviously a smart move on Microsoft as there might very well be an increase in Vista sales.
As smartphones are becoming more and more popular, it seems that software like Mobile 6 will be a part of many of our lives (except for the other millions of people that choose the coveted iPhone). Cingular Wireless (now the new AT&T), HP, LG Electronics, Motorola Inc., Palm Inc., Samsung, SingTel, Sprint, Telefonica, Toshiba, Verizon Wireless, and Vodafone will all run Mobile 6. Let’s hope there are no software bugs or that will not make Mr. Gates a happy man.
Mobile 6 was just one of many 3GSM unveilings and there were many more services and products that were a bit more exciting. One of the most exciting aspects of 3GSM was actually neither a product nor service but the 2007 winners of 3GSM. That’s right, companies are eligible for a long list of awards ranging from “Best made for mobile music service,” to “Best Ultra Low Cost Handset.” I have a feeling I would have enjoyed watching this from my living room than the Grammy’s. Sarcasm or not? You decide.
The point of all of this is that the mobile industry is completely embracing the changing technology and record companies can learn A LOT from them. They just choose not to! The mindset that the mobile executives have is like that of its customers and it is paying off.
Mobile Tech News-Microsoft unveils Windows Mobile 6
http://www.mobiletechnews.com/info/2007/02/13/103358.html
Microsoft-Windows Mobile 6
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/default.mspx
3GSm Official Site-
http://3gsmworldcongress.com/index.asp
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