Embrace mobile or fail CNN - Europe / 8 hours ago Fall is coming, which means smartphone manufacturers will be launching new models with flashy new bells and whistles. But some forward-looking features are already part of existing phones. Here are five helpful features that other phone makers (Apple, are you listening?) would be wise to adopt. HIDE CAPTION 5 cool smartphone features Underwater photos A countdown timer for selfies Automatic app updates Screen tiles showing live info Hands-free controls for drivers >> STORY HIGHLIGHTS Tablet sales are predicted to surpass PCs, laptops by 2015, says Gartner Yet 60% of businesses will not have a mobile strategy in place by 2014 Firms must have mobile first strategy if they wish to go global, writes Nic Newman Editors note: Nic Newman is EMEA managing director and head of strategy at Tigerspike, a personal media company. Going Global showcases entrepreneurs taking their businesses around the world, tackling issues like business strategy, marketing and international logistics. (CNN) -- The world is undergoing a mobility transformation. Since Apple launched the first iPhone in 2007, more than 100 billion apps have been downloaded from app stores by consumers worldwide. Gartner, the market research firm, has predicted that by 2015, tablet sales will be higher than those of PCs and laptops combined. There are now more connected mobile devices on earth than there are people. This transformation is happening much faster than the dot-com revolution of the late 1990s, and businesses are catching on. Companies are already developing 20 to 30 apps on average in the three categories of consumer, business-to-business and (B2B) and enterprise. These are already changing the way we live and work, wherever we are. Additionally, they are changing the way businesses interact with other businesses, investors, media, customers and even their own workforce worldwide. Despite this, Gartner estimates that 60% of the Fortune 1000 companies will not have a mobile strategy in place by 2014. In my view, having a mobile strategy is not enough for businesses to succeed globally in the years to come. What businesses need is a mobile first strategy, placing mobile opportunities at the forefront of their international growth. Read: Facebook focus on mobile first Dont forget consumer apps Personal media technology is already streamlining the way we deal with our daily tasks -- both in business and at home. American Express offers mobile applications that allow customers to manage their accounts on the move, improving the service as well as reducing call centre waiting times. Through similar technology, reading the Economist has never been more enjoyable (or widespread -- as the mobile and tablet apps have been downloaded six million times). The average UK family now has ten internet connected devices. The fact is that if consumers cant access your brand on multiple platforms, they will switch to one where they can. Creating effective mobile software is not easy. It requires solid software development and user interface design, not to mention thorough testing. This is perhaps why, while some 60% of organizations have consumer apps, their quality does not score high among consumers. It is not enough for the apps to be useful, people have to enjoy using them. User experience -- how an application feels -- is paramount. For ten years, Tigerspike has been working with customers who understand that user experience is about combining design and software skills with a deep knowledge of how back end systems operate. In the global market, good user interface must include the insightful localization, both in terms of language and content. These are the hallmarks of the most successful global consumer apps and when companies get them right, they build better relationships and channels of information for their customers in all countries.
Posted on: Mon, 02 Dec 2013 21:30:53 +0000
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