Is Mobile 2.0 Really Just Hype?
Is Mobile 2.0 Really Just Hype?

Is Mobile 2.0 Really Just Hype?

Is Mobile 2.0 Really Just Hype?

Paul Golding at Wireless Wanders posted an interesting op-ed about the hype surrounding mobile 2.0. While it’s clear that he’s looking at this from a Euro/US perspective – especially on the device side – however, we have no doubt there are some valid points contained therein. At the same time it should be also noted that Impress R&D (div. of the major Tokyo-based publisher) released a book last summer called Mobile 2.0 [in Japanese] which would likely shed a little more light on what is actually possible, at least in Japan.

Now, do we have new technologies in mobile web, like widgets, AJAX, “web-top” for the phone and so on? Yes we do, although non-existent in the market, except for a few niche devices. But within the “2.0″ frame, I don’t think that we have a significant change. We are still stuck with the same single-task, tiny keyboard, 200×300 pixels interface. It’s like asking me to write my next 600-page book using one of those really tiny (and cute) reporter notepads and a nearly blunt pencil (with a smudgy eraser).

A few of the pre-installed functions that we see as standard and/or becoming much more common include; Flash, GPS, m-commerce and 1Seg digital tv. Combined with nearly 70% of the users on 3G, and rapid adoption of flat-rate billing accounts, it would be fair to say that if there is such a thing as mobile 2.0 it’s here in Japan!