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Google’s Schmidt hails the ‘real mobile revolution’ in Asia

35 points by NonEUCitizen 15y ago

zipdog 15y ago
Easy payments through cell phones combined with ubiquitous, cheap phones combined with cell-phone interfaces to buy/sell/access everything (stocks, insurance, micropayment): this is a powerful change in the way people work and do everything. But I think the step after the phone is going to be even more interesting. Its about the point now where any device can be hooked up to 3G and have a touchscreen interface (basically having a touchscreen phone embedded in the device, with software tailored to the interactions the device can make with other devices, or suppliers, or support, etc)
awaz 15y ago
Mobile phone is the second technology that has reached the grassroots in Asia, the first being the radio. Given the wide adoption of mobile phones, people are trying to solve every day problems sans computers.
avstraliitski 15y ago
As someone who lived in China for seven years and is presently traveling around India (also having done business across Asia in a bunch of countries, and traveled to yet more) all I can say to this is "yes". India + China = huge chunk of world, making many things. Almost no legacy fixed-line infrastructure. Low prices. I'm online via 2G in the middle of nowhere and it works. And you know what, once you get past the "I can't watch youtube or kickstarter videos" issue, it's actually great. When the power goes out, I stay online, because I'm using a laptop and wireless. Also, space is at more of a premium in Asian cities, so desktops make slightly less sense for that reason. In China, the domestic wireless infrastructure is amazing because the government just said "we do this, now" and it happened. In 2001 when I first moved there, you'd see consultants flown in from the west to install, configure and maintain these systems. Now China themselves are world leading manufacturers and servicers for most of the critical infrastructure components (Huawei, etc.), and selling it to everyone else (eg: most of Africa). Asia is amazing. I think that more people should leave the west for a few years and check it out.
known 15y ago
With the proliferation of Internet and Cell phones people can make informed decisions and directly vote on Bills/Laws in Indian Parliament.

35 points by NonEUCitizen 15y ago

Easy payments through cell phones combined with ubiquitous, cheap phones combined with cell-phone interfaces to buy/sell/access everything (stocks, insurance, micropayment): this is a powerful change in the way people work and do everything. But I think the step after the phone is going to be even more interesting. Its about the point now where any device can be hooked up to 3G and have a touchscreen interface (basically having a touchscreen phone embedded in the device, with software tailored to the interactions the device can make with other devices, or suppliers, or support, etc)

awaz 15y ago

Mobile phone is the second technology that has reached the grassroots in Asia, the first being the radio. Given the wide adoption of mobile phones, people are trying to solve every day problems sans computers.

avstraliitski 15y ago

As someone who lived in China for seven years and is presently traveling around India (also having done business across Asia in a bunch of countries, and traveled to yet more) all I can say to this is "yes". India + China = huge chunk of world, making many things. Almost no legacy fixed-line infrastructure. Low prices. I'm online via 2G in the middle of nowhere and it works. And you know what, once you get past the "I can't watch youtube or kickstarter videos" issue, it's actually great. When the power goes out, I stay online, because I'm using a laptop and wireless. Also, space is at more of a premium in Asian cities, so desktops make slightly less sense for that reason. In China, the domestic wireless infrastructure is amazing because the government just said "we do this, now" and it happened. In 2001 when I first moved there, you'd see consultants flown in from the west to install, configure and maintain these systems. Now China themselves are world leading manufacturers and servicers for most of the critical infrastructure components (Huawei, etc.), and selling it to everyone else (eg: most of Africa). Asia is amazing. I think that more people should leave the west for a few years and check it out.

known 15y ago

With the proliferation of Internet and Cell phones people can make informed decisions and directly vote on Bills/Laws in Indian Parliament.