Text Box: Mobile User Interfaces

Date Published: June 2004, Pages: 235, Tables: 22, Figures: 5           

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Summary
Text Box: Sample Pages OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVICE MANUFACTURERS There are three general areas of opportunity: (1) creating a mobile user interface that makes best use of new input/output components (e.g., new displays), (2) creating a mobile user interface that can be extended from mobile phones to other devices such as portable MP3 players and personal health monitors, and (3) development of modular transceivers and application-specific devices. Let's examine each separately. Unfortunately, there is no single user interface that is optimal for every display and data input method. But manufacturers can gain some competitive advantage by anticipating the specific attributes of larger, higher resolution displays and so forth. Manufacturers should at least make the effort, as Nokia has, to define a limited number of user interface categories to be reused whenever it makes sense. Over time, specific user interface categories may be dropped, while others become popular. There could be considerable value to a mobile user interface that is reused in different types of devices. This will eliminate the need to re-invent the wheel, and will make life easier for application developers. Users will appreciate the use of familiar interfaces on disparate devices. There is an opportunity for individual hardware vendors to create standard interfaces that could guarantee their participation in new markets. For example, a phone manufacturer that develops a user interface that is also used in personal health monitors may be able to supply user interface hardware to those who produce personal health monitors, or license designs to them. A user interface that cuts across multiple markets could also lead to the creation of a keirestu around that user interface. The development of modular transceivers and application-specific devices could ensure the continued market dominance of handset makers as wireless networks are populated with non-handset devices. As we discuss later in the report, there may be opportunities for a Personal Mobile Gateway as defined by IXI Mobile. Likewise, there will no doubt be opportunities for embedded transceivers as 2.5G and 3G services expand wireless' utility. Handset manufacturers that do not participate in defining the mobile user interface are at risk of having others define it for them, wresting away control of the look and feel of their products, and freezing them out of important new device markets. OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS The mobile user interface is key to whether new applications succeed or fail. As NTT DoCoMo has proved, the mobile user interface can be used to create branded services, attract developers, and enlist third party content/service providers. While operators should not try to deliver end-to-end solutions, they have as much reason to select specific mobile user interfaces as specific mobile devices. The mobile user interface defines, to a great extent, the look and feel of services. In fact, a successful operator-defined user interface could attract a following, and large operators should consider creating their own mobile user interface standards and requiring manufacturers conform to those standards. There is a general trend among telecom operators to steer between the extremes of providing dumb pipes and end-to-end solutions. The middle ground is the smart pipe. This is essentially a set of services and features that can be quickly adapted to specific applications. Thus, by creating smart pipes with various features for both consumers (e.g., unified messaging, personal digital lockers for storing content, etc.) and enterprises (account management, such as creating custom, WAP-based menu screens for their own users), operators can use the mobile user interface to attract and retain key market segments. As the mobile user interface becomes more sophisticated, users will be more reluctant to change carriers, as that could require retraining and even modifying custom applications. The mobile user interface also represents an opportunity for mobile virtual network operators (MVNO). These are firms such as Virgin in the UK that offer mobile phone service to specific market segments (e.g., youth) by purchasing airtime from existing operators on a wholesale basis. Thus, MVNOs could buy airtime wholesale and develop their own mobile user interface to differentiate their service from the infrastructure operator's service. OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONTENT CREATORS AND DISTRIBUTORS Content producers and distributors are unlikely to exert much control over the mobile user interface, but working closely with those who do is key to success in the emerging wireless multimedia market. However, we believe there is a major opportunity for a relatively new category of player, the wireless content aggregator. These are vendors who will identify, obtain, reformat (if needed), and stream content to wireless users working closely with specific operators. It's likely that content aggregators will set up streaming servers within the wireless operators' networks, ensuring that the content is brought as close to subscribers as possible, and work closely with mobile operators to ensure smooth handling of cell handoffs. Due to cost and capacity issues, mobile operators are likely to offer streaming music and short video clips at first. Thus, content aggregators must make decisions about which content and formats to use. Individual content aggregators don't need to control the mobile user interface, but there are things they could do to lock-in relationships, such as controlling both the server and client software, and perhaps putting software hooks in the mobile device operating system. Cartoons and synthesized music will play a big role at first, as they do not require as much data as digitized music and video. Content aggregators can jump-start the market by choosing (or contracting for) the right content for mobile users. We believe watching short cartoons could be a big application, and with the right client-server software should not require much more bandwidth than a voice call. OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS There are opportunities for software developers to develop the mobile user interface, enhance it, and exploit it with applications that take full advantage of its power. The mobile user interface is likely to make much more use of a variety of input/output techniques than desktop PCs or even standalone PDAs. Thus, there will be opportunities for software developers that can make use of not just keypad input and display output, but also voice recognition, handwriting recognition, text-to-speech, and radio locating. This will require the ability to develop applications that are unusual in that they are three- and even four-dimensional. For example, mobile data applications that can deliver enterprise data to either a screen or an earpiece. As we argue in our report Mobile Voice Portals, this opens the door to truly ubiquitous applications -- applications that can be reached from a mobile data device, a mobile phone, or any fixed phone. There will also be opportunities for adapting popular desktop applications to mobile environments, as well as making sure that popular mobile applications can be used on as many mobile devices as possible. Wireless ASPs will deliver services and client software over the air. Mobile users are more likely to make impulse buys of applications and content, and ASPs could find more success in the 3G wireless market than they have found on the Internet at large. It's important that the mobile user interface be flexible -- giving application developers and remote service providers the ability to create pioneering offerings. Not only should device manufacturers define and promote a limited set of user interfaces, they should define different modes within each interface. The ability to switch smoothly between modes will make it possible to jump from an on-screen menu to a music clip, back to a voice-based interaction, and finally on to a video conference. Text Box: Abstract Mobile user interfaces (MUI) have attracted considerable investments from the wireless industry. Mobile applications are key to successful wireless service offerings and the success of applications in turn depends on effective MUIs. This is because the MUI provides the medium for interacting with the applications being accessed. With the proliferation of handheld devices such as PDAs, mobile phones etc., MUIs have become very important. A uniform MUI may not serve the purpose of all devices or all categories of users, necessitating the need to customization. Basically firms could build a group of generic MUIs and can then extend the same depending on usage. In building effective MUIs, firms could face challenges in terms of display resolution, display size, data interaction method, power usage, cost etc. This calls for a rationalization of features and benefits to arrive at a portfolio of offerings to suit different usage needs. Moreover the MUIs should be intuitive and easy to use for the end user with minimal support from the associated user manuals. Some other considerations while building MUIs include the following: security, authentication, input/output devices, future applications, entertainment, price, location-based services etc.