A big week for mobile
Published: 26 Sep 2008
The two biggest forces for the mobile internet adoption – devices and data – got a huge boost this week. Brussels has moved to place a €1 per MB cap on mobile data charges and Google has launched its first Android device, the G1.
Operators have reported sharp increases in their revenues raised from customers surfing the internet and getting emails on their mobiles. However, the cost of mobile data has long been a barrier to entry for potential mobile internet users. Now with lower rates – home and abroad – as well as unlimited data bundles increasingly common with tariffs the dawn of mobile has arrived.
This week also saw the launch of Google’s G1. The first smart phone using Android open source technology will reach the UK by November and the rest of Europe by next year. Google has never failed to revolutionise a market it has moved into and will expect to do exactly that in the mobile market. Designed to change the way people use mobile devices it boasts 3G, full QWERTY keyboard as well as a touch screen.
As the iPhone and its applications revolutionised the mobile world the new device from Google and increasing pressure to reduce the cost of mobile data will catalyse mobile internet usage. For travel this means more vital touch points and increased opportunity in this new, largely un-tapped channel.
Hear form Google, Vodafone and BT about how the mobile world is developing and benchmark your mobile strategy against Lufthansa, BA and lastminute.com at Mobile Technology in Travel taking place on 11th November at World Travel Market. For more information please go to www.eyefortravel.com/wtm/mobile.
Comments
sallreen said on 27 Sep 08:
The service will be free for users and targeted to 16-24 year olds. Presumably that age group will be more receptive to receiving an endless stream of advertising in exchange for free mobile minutes and texting.
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Sally
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