T-Mobile chief executive Rene Obermann today hit out at mobile Internet doubters, comparing them to the analysts who predicted mobiles would only be used by 25 percent of the population.
Obermann criticised the "cynicism" around mobile Internet use and "experts" unimpressed with Web access on mobiles. "Experts are usually wrong with these predictions," he said.
The T-Mobile boss, however, announced some pretty bold predictions himself. "To date, Internet traffic has been fixed line," he said. "Mobile will be the centre of the Internet."
"The growth of data and Internet traffic will displace fixed line," he added.
However, Obermann did acknowledge there have been some problems with the Internet experience on phones to date, with WAP giving the Web on mobiles a bad name.
"The user interface is not that easy... We told people they could surf the Web [but] until now that hasn't been true," he said.
Obermann has his own ideas on how user interfaces should develop to cope with the demands of surfing on a mobile.
"Ultimately, you'll be able to ask your mobile — literally ask with your personal voice — and your hopefully T-Mobile will deliver," he said. "We all know that future is a long way off."
Talkback
The authors comments are so general, that they can be defended till the cows come home.
Look, the bottom line is that fixed line interne thas had quite reasonable penetration, and mobile internet is an incredibly small fraction in comparison. So, logically, the area which can experience most growth, is mobile. You dont need to be a senior telco suit to figure this out.
In addition to which, mobile internet costs are ridiculous, as has previously been written in this forum. The sooner we get to unlimited downloads with a fixed monthly cost, the sooner you'll be able to expand the space.
Current pricing is nothing short of predatory, and I personally am disgusted with the attitude of telco's in this regard.
I think the sooner we get Wimax to cover a city like London, the sooner we'll have serious Voip options, so that we can do away with traditional Telco's if they choose to be so uncompetetive. You'll then be able to use a converged device to do all your voice and mobile internet with.
Bring it on.
talking talking and still talking, since months ago that they've said Internet on Mobile will be soon at the hand of most people, availability and cost but fortunatly with T-Mobile who Charge 1£ for a M is a real pain in the ass, well when are you going to stop dreaming and bring this to a reality??
Long way to go I guess when we comapre to the Tech in North America or even here un Europe.
Waky waky, stop talking.....
Until Telcos understand that every day consumers can't afford $400 dollar data overage bills for data transfer that didn't amount to a positive experience to begin with - we will be stuck in this land of marketing denial. Fixed Internet did not have mass uptake until ISPs bit down hard on their own margin to get at $29.99 a month offer - mobile Internet is suffering from the "we built and they will pay for it" mentality of the Telcos - guess what - we aren't coming until the paradigm shifts to charging us for software usage - not connectivity. Cable companies and entrepreneurs are going to make the mobile Internet happen.
It's available today. Take a look at nexgenportal.com