Mobile Internet

Mobilizing the Internet with new handheld devices

by Ari Virtanen, Vice President, Convergence Products, Multimedia, Nokia

Convenient mobile access to the Internet will provide business and personal users alike with a variety of new services. Indeed, many observers believe that WiFi or WiMAX enabled hand- sets might one day take over much of the current mobile voice traffic. Today, neither the lap- top, the ultra-mobile PC nor the smartphone is an ideal device for mobile Internet access. The Internet tablet, with open source software, is thought by some to be the most promising device for mobile Internet access.

Ari Virtanen is Nokia’s Vice President of Convergence Products. He heads the Multimedia Business Group’s Convergence Products with the global business responsibility for Nokia’s new Internet optimized multimedia computers. Previously, Mr Virtanen was in charge of Nokia’s Networks’ System Technology Unit with the global responsibility for network related end-to-end system functionalities, architec- tures, R&D and technology strategies as well as the regulatory and standardization activities. Prior to that, he was in charge of Nokia’s Mobile Packet Core and Service Control Systems businesses as well as the Intelligent Content Delivery programme. In the past, Mr Virtanen also had global responsibility for Nokia’s network platforms.

Mr Virtanen has a Master’s degree in Computer Science and Industrial Economics.

Internet and mobility - there is a huge for scientific purposes, were followed later needs. Then, the PC came and evolved into promise implied in putting these two mega- by the mini computers driven by enterprise the desktop and, with time, the laptop. This is trends together. Many companies where computers are today, but even have participated in the race laptops cannot solve the Internet + towards creating this holy grail of Mobility equation. communications. One camp has tried to use the high volumes of cell The fundamental demand is still phones to convert the Internet into there, simply because people are the Mobile Internet. Another camp used to their favourite Internet has claimed that powerful Internet services, as much as they are used communications applications - to the seamless mobility of their such as Voice over IP, VoIP - will voice services. The dilemma is that eventually dilute the value of the Internet services still largely depend whole cell phone industry. However, upon the PC environment with its for the time being no one can claim desktop PC legacy, whereas the the victory - yet. mobile voice services have their roots in the telecommunication The history of computing is legacy and value chain. Despite the interesting. Mainframes, first built ever-increasing Internet capabilities

38 n EMEA issue 2007 MobileMobile Internet access

of cell phones and the improved mobility of access and, in the absence of WiFi, there needs elements from the software. It will also make PCs, it seems that neither of these product to be a way to use alternative radios, such as it possible for anyone to use the Internet tablet categories can serve as the platform needed 3G or WiMAX. as a platform for innovation and, in the fast- for easy, truly mobile Internet access. Both growing Maemo open source development of them will add new functions and advanced Finally, the architecture of such a device needs community, this sort of development activity form-factors but they tend to remain true to to be as open as possible, enabling all the is already happening. their roots as evolved versions of PCs and cell Internet communities, as well as individuals or phones. enterprises, to implement their own innovation The Internet is driving many interesting trends on top of the platform. that empower the individual. Since anyone can Mobilizing, making the Internet mobile, create and publish any content within seconds, requires new computers designed from the Looking at the list of requirements, it is the way people are using the Internet has totally very beginning for the Internet. Developing quite obvious that neither the UMPC nor the changed. People today want to participate and them is challenging, because it is always very smartphone meets all of the potential user’s they want to stay connected to their favourite difficult to explain the purpose - to market - needs, for the reasons discussed above. What Internet services at all times. That’s why the a new product category. People are used to is then left is a product category often called fastest-growing communities on the web their current devices and applications, and Mobile Internet devices, MID. They run are not business driven; they reflect the new generally compare new devices to them, Internet applications and fulfil most mobility casual Internet user of instant messaging, without immediately understanding the new requirements as well. There is not yet a chats, the sharing of presence information value proposition. Decades ago, and so on. People are no longer Henry Ford put it very well, willing to sit down at their desk saying: “If I had asked people with their computer for a couple what they want, they would have of hours. They want to have their wanted a faster horse.” Instead, he computer in their pocket and, as started manufacturing cars. needed, take it out, use it, and put it back - 50 times a day, if need be. Ultra Mobile PCs, UMPC, are The new computers, then, will not continuing the PC evolution, and only look different but they will smartphones are doing the same be used in a very different way for the cell phone industry. Both than the PC. product categories will grow and prosper within the usage The next question is - what categories for which they were will happen to the business originally designed. When it applications? Currently, most comes to ‘mobilizing’ the Internet people are content to use their - UMPCs and smartphones are current computers, mostly laptops, only faster horses - we need a to deal with their business needs. car. In fact, laptops are well designed dominant MID form factor, and many MIDs for the purpose and as long as the current office If we now assume that the Internet is powerful are still little more than concepts. Further, they applications are the dominant ones, there is enough to drive a new computer category, often use proprietary software elements and no immediate need for new computers to run what are the key characteristics of these new are not open Internet devices. them. However, in the long run it is quite clear devices? that new types of business applications will Our candidate for the next-generation be made possible by, and be implemented First, they must handle all the main computer would be an Internet tablet, designed on, the next-generation computers. The new Internet functions well, including Internet from the very beginning solely for the Internet, applications, though, will not be new versions communications, web browsing and reproduce without any PC or cellular legacy elements. It of existing applications, but something very the richness of Internet media. Basically, would have to be a native Internet computer new and revolutionary. The new devices, all the key Internet services that people are - purpose-built as a mobile Internet device. and the new applications, might well change accustomed to in the PC environment need to As a second-generation device, the original the current distribution of work between the work flawlessly. Internet tablets were the first, it has a proven computer and the Internet so that much more form factor and has solved most of the issues of the work will be done not on computer but Second, the mobility needs to be related to mobility. It is still in the early stages in the network where much of the intelligence uncompromised, with the emphasis on the right of its introduction but is catching up with the will reside. form factor. For example, the display needs be PC when it comes to the smooth use of all the big enough for a great Internet experience, relevant Internet services; such services are We are currently living in a very exciting phase but at the same time the device must be small being added rapidly, together with the major in the computer industry. As the open Internet enough to fit into your pocket. The device also Internet Open Source communities, and it is model moves ahead, it will give consumers needs to have a lot of computing power for fast only a matter of time when this mission will power. They will be able to decide the devices response times and a long-lasting battery. be completed. they want, the connections they prefer and the services they wish to use. This will drive the Third, connectivity must be ubiquitous. The This approach ensures that the product growth of these new computers - the mobile Internet optimized computer must be able to architecture is as open as it gets, and the main Internet devices - and the Internet will become use available WiFi connections for fast Internet principle is to minimize all the proprietary a mobile, ever-present part of our lives. n

EMEA issue 2007 n 41