Nokia Mobile Web Server - a game changer…
This post builds on a previous post from earlier in the week, when I gave mention to some Nokia\Apache software that runs as a mobile web server on my mobile phone (a Nokia N95). The first thing that jumped out was the architecture of the software, ‘software above the level of a single device’ as coined by Tim O’Reilly. Then Phil jumped in with a comment agreeing with O’Reilly that such software has the potential to simplify the user interface of devices with small screens, but there is more to this software. A Google blog search revealed Ricky Cadden asking the same question…”I think there’s some serious potential here [MWS], though I can’t quite put my finger on it”.
Here is one reason I think it’s a real game changer - it completely removes the necessity of a network operator?
The likes of Skype and Gizmo already threaten the network operators’ phone call revenues, with VOIP based services; the mobile web server goes further. Let’s assume all mobile phones run with a mobile web server and have access to a wireless internet connection. Now write a one sentence webpage and host it on your mobile web server; restrict permission to view that web page to your best pal; make a request against a web service, running on your friend’s mobile web server, that alerts them of the new page you’ve created; and essentially you’ve just sent a text message - but without the network operator.
Moreover, replacement of the 160 character text message is only the beginning, this is revolutionary technology and a whole host of innovative applications can be expected to follow. What form might they take?
If we do move to a situation where the world’s 3 billion mobile devices ship configured as web servers, it would represent at least a doubling in the size of the internet (if there is a suitable metric by which to make such a measurement). What is more, if recent trends continue, and phones are equipped with GPS, these new web servers will be location aware and mobile.
2 Comments, Comment or Ping
Phil Leggetter
Are we saying that the IP address is the new phone number?
Mobile phone operators will still have a place as long as they are the ones supplying the network - since they have the infrastructure in place. They will become “data network providers” rather than “mobile network providers”. I think this is already happening anyway. The only way I can see this as a true threat to the network operators is if free WIFI becomes available almost everywhere.
It’s actually pretty strange that mobile networks are moving to give users free data (internet) access as part of standard tariffs when people are using more and more data from their mobiles. When data usage overtakes phone call usages, which may occur when VOIP truely works from mobiles, I can see tariff structuring changing. We’ll be charged for data usage and not phone calls. Maybe they are trying to push data usage in an effort to making people rely on data access in the knowledge that they will charge for it in the future?
Jun 19th, 2008
Rob
Super metaphor…”the IP address is the new phone number”.
Look to the USA for ubiquitous free wifi access; it must only be a matter of time over here?
Mobile operators could well be shifting to a “data network provider” model, and have made big moves on the home ISP market here in the UK lately, but if the mobile phone does become a web server by default they will need to do much more, they will need to reinvent.
Note: I notice news breaking that Vodafone have walked away from an auction for Tiscalli…
Jun 19th, 2008
Reply to “Nokia Mobile Web Server - a game changer…”