Mobility is about Me

I’ve been an active participant in the mobile technology industry for nearly two decades (which is to say, since the technology first became available). In all that time, mobility has always been defined and contextualized by its technology. Cellular networks, Android, LTE, feature phones, smart phones, tablets, etc. The framework has always been about how technology allows people to do things differently, but it has always been consistently about the technology.

This is not the right approach. We need to turn this whole thing on it’s head and redefine the context of mobility. Mobility is not about mobile devices or the infrastructure that support them. It’s about the user being able to move around an information ecosystem at will, while getting a consistent experience, regardless of what device or network is being used. I should be able to start in my office working on a desktop or laptop computer, connected to a LAN, then seamlessly switch to the same application as I pick up a tablet to head to a meeting, then further switch to a smartphone and continue working on the commute home. Same application, supporting some workflow for which I am responsible. While the actual interface will shift around as I more from device to device, the overall experience should be consistent; same look and feel, and the same general information flow. The overall experience I need is driven by the information, not the device or supporting network, and it’s not the responsibility of a single device to create a compelling experience (even though some do), it’s the responsibility of the entire information ecosystem to deliver an enveloping framework that allows me to work at maximum effectiveness.

Why does this perspective matter? Because it’s about the customer, not about the device, or the network. It’s not about the nuances of technology or products, it’s about providing the right information delivered by a vast ecosystem that constantly adapts to the end user’s requirements. This perspective, driven by the right business model, is what will drive the transformation of the enterprise as it strives to maximize the efficiency of its workers, workgroups, and workflows (and by the way, that includes you, right now, sitting here, reading this blog). If done right, mobility is all about me (and you), as it should be.