Now we’re all back to work, it’s about time for MobHappy’s 2007 Predictions. While they’re a bit of fun, Carlo and I have a pretty formidable record in this game, so if you’re interested in the mobile space, they’re worth a read. And if you’re not interested, why on earth are you reading this?
Carlo is going to do all his in one little burst (soon), while I’m going for the slightly more drawn out, teasing version with a few each day - or as I get the chance to write them.
And no, I’m not going to predict the iPhone again - old news and you don’t need us to add fuel the fires of this particular speculation.
So without more ado, here we go:
Prediction 1 - The Year of Mobile User Generated Content
On the day that Ad Age declares the consumer their “Agency of the Year” citing such brilliance as the Mentos & Diet Coke video (check it out if you really still haven’t seen it), it seems only appropriate to highlight that Mugcon (Mobile User Generated Content - anyone think of a better acronym?) is going to hit phones big time this year.
Got your My Space page? How very, very, very 2006. 2007 is all about creating your own mobile space, with your own mobile web page. Not to mention creating your own Java magazines - I hotly tipped Tocmag back in June, which was received with some scepticism in your comments. Late last year, they’d had over 1 million downloads based on nothing more than a little viral marketing over a few months. It’s going to get a lot bigger for those guys, I promise.
Other Mugcon stuff is creating your own wallpaper, ringtones, forums or posting your photos via ShoZu or on mobloguk.
All this has been building up for some time obviously, but 2007 will see a real explosion for the likes of sites such as Peperonity, itsmy and Tagtag into the mainstream.
I’ve also been thinking about Podcasting as another example of Mugcon, but I’ll save that for another post
Mugcon has arrived and it’ll be huge next year.
As a post script to this, somewhat ironically, Ad Age is still sticking to its 1950’s terminology in these post-marketing days. Unlike MobHappy where we declared hatred of the description “consumer” a few years back, how much longer can they carry on using this redundant terminology? I mean, declaring that the consumer no longer just consumes, surely must give them a little bit of a hint.
Prediction 2 - Usability
Mobile is going to be hotter than ever next year, even breaking through the consciousness of some of the old die-hard Valley PC-centric people.
It’s not my prediction as such, but I expect many more start-ups to pursue ideas that we tried and dismissed in Europe a few years ago. Like sms based marketing alerts and location based wap advertising channels - ahhh, those were the days.
One definition of wisdom is the ability to learn from the mistakes of others, so it’s always intrigued me why so many start-ups don’t seem to.
Anyway, if you’re lucky enough to be an established usability practitioner in the mobile space, the mobile explosion means you’re going to be in demand in the next few years, which either makes you lucky or cunning - well done you.
While particular demand will occur in usability - good people are already rarer than mobile phones in Harry Potter novels - but to an extent, it’ll include people who really understand the mobile from an engineering or developer point of view.
Employers - if you have good people, make sure you appreciate them and hang on to them.
More predictions to follow. If you have any of your own, please link from your blog or leave a comment.