The smartphone is the new laptop
This is an excerpt from a post I did over at Random Animal, but I thought it was worth putting it up here as well as it's a good fit for the site.
The other day a friend proclaimed that the laptop is the new desktop, and the smartphone is the new laptop.
Laptops, once the defining symbol of mobile computing, are now pretty much just a "computer" in most peoples' eyes. In the geek communities there's some buzz around ultra-mobile machines, but to me they're a solution to portable computing like the Segway is a solution to walking. It's too big for your pocket, and if you're going to carry around a bag anyway, there are plenty of lightweight options that don't require tiny screens, cramped keyboards, and compromises in performance and connectivity.
So what will happen when we all carry around mobile-broadband connected, high powered devices in our pocket? Media folks love to speculate on the advertising opportunities available to brands in the mobile space, but that doesn't feel like a totally viable option. Studies have shown American consumers view the phone as a very personal device, and any type of ad intrusion is unlikely to be welcomed with open arms. Nielsen reports that only 9% of people agree with the statement that advertising on their cellphones is acceptable, while 31% say it's acceptable if it lowers the bill (source).
I think the real game changer will be in how people interact with each other and in the ways they share and access information. And for brands, that means that 'being part of the conversation' will take on a whole new level of importance.
Read more: The smartphone is the new laptop
posted on 10.08.08
comments
I think we need to look more closely at the types of advertising people are opposed to on their mobile devices. If I'm using the mobile web I'm going to be open to seeing ads b/c that's what I'm used to. I'm not open to getting SMS ads or seeing an ad every time I want to use my phone.
posted by Trent on 11.12.08
I think you bring up a valid point Trent, but what if the ads you received via SMS or another channel were actually more relevant and more useful that those from browsing/searching the mobile web? What if in receiving ads, they helped subsidize the cost of your mobile phone bill? Are you completely closed to the possibility of other types of mobile ads? Sean, love that you called the Segway a solution to walking :-)
posted by Erin on 11.12.08