This week in mobility – 17 October 2014
You wait all this time for an Apple announcement and then two come along in the space of a month… the impact of the new iPad and iPhone really shows how mobile-centric our lives have become; even if Bono had to make a slight apology for his alleged generosity. But Apple hasn’t been the only big mobile story this week, as Google announces its Lollipop Android 5.0 OS and Tesco tries to beat the lunchtime rush by trialling mobile payments.
Some other stories to note in this week’s news:
- Continuing on the Google theme, the web giant is to hold spectrum trials in California to determine whether it’s possible to provide super-fast, fibre speed broadband without the need for physical cables. This would essentially create a wireless alternative to fibre. Google will conduct the trial on rarely-used millimetre bands which are capable of transmitting huge amounts of data over short distances. It’ll be interesting to see how this progresses when the 180 day test gets underway, so watch this space.
- Commuting in and out of London can be an ordeal at the best of times, and as we while away the journey fiddling with our phones, our frustration is exacerbated by a signal that drops out constantly. A rigorous study by Global Wireless Solutions ran the numbers and found that mobile connectivity on London’s commuter routes is in a very sorry state; with a quarter of all data tasks failing. Notably, St. Pancras has the worst connectivity, with an average of 99 voice and packet data failures.
- Finally, it’s been verified (I’ve suspected for some time) that going shopping is no longer just about buying things! Rather it’s all part of a wider omnichannel experience enabled by technology. A recent Retail’s Digital Future study highlights geo-location beacons are now tracking consumers throughout their retail activities, meaning retailers can provide more bespoke, tailored services based on individual shopping habits. Emerging technologies like augmented reality mirrors, 3D printing and even mood-reading dresses are also helping to bring shoppers back into the physical store. A Saturday afternoon down Westfield will never be the same again…
Let us know your thoughts on this week’s mobility news roundup. Would fibre speed wireless internet help your business? On the subject of speed, how does your network fare on your daily commute? Let us know by commenting below or tweeting me personally at @GrahamFranklin or Cisco at @CiscoUKI.
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