The Future of Search is in the Palm of Your Hand
Running an SEO/PPC company provides constant stimulation. I’m forced to stay on top of the latest trends in online marketing, including not only search engine algorithm shifts, but also the evolution of digital media. It’s amazing to see how the modern world is quickly advancing in the ways they access the web and search, and it’s even more amazing to project into the very near future.
It’s easy to see the what future of the internet looks like - it’s about 3″ x 5″ in size, plays music and videos, and is also a great phone.
Initially I really believed Apple’s iPhone would change the world of digital media. And to be honest, I still think it will have a very significant impact. However, it won’t necessarily be the main catalyst for change, for these reasons:
- Cost prohibitive - it’s price tag still keeps it out of the reach of most mobile users, as does the cost of a data plan.
- Closed architecture - it’s the only reason I haven’t bought one yet. If I can’t load my apps (e.g. TomTom) on it, I don’t want it.
- Network exclusivity - if you’re not on the right network or in the right country, you can forget any support or warranty.
Despite these issues however, I still believe the future of the internet will be heavily focused on mobile browsing and search. This is because of one particular product - Android. If you haven’t heard of it yet, it’s an advanced operating system for phones, release by Google. I firmly believe that Android will change the world of mobile internet, and the very nature of local search.
No, Google doesn’t have the marketing savvy that Apple has. And no, Google has never made a play at the consumer product segment - where Apple is already a well-established player. However, there are a few reasons why I feel that Android will succeed:
- It’s free. It’s open source, you’ll be able to install and run it on many different mobile devices without any cost! And knowing Google, they’ll most likely come out with some free data plans supported by advertising.
- Open architecture. Not only will there be plenty of apps to install on it, but already Google is hosting a $10 million contest to develop the best new applications. The iPhone may very well end up looking archaic in comparison.
- I’m sure as long as you can get a sim card, you’ll be able to use this phone on your network.
So yes, they’re the exact reasons why the iPhone is failing. But hey, there are more reasons, like integration with Google Docs, Calendar, Gmail, etc, but that all remains to be seen. And sure, Android is buggy right now, but that too is to be expected.
Anyhow, my projection is that within 18-24 months, a large percentage of people who previously had a cell phone will then have replaced it with a very capable mobile device. You will see people on every street walking and surfing - or more likely yet - walking and searching.
What does this mean for your website? Your business? Search engines? I’ll cover that off in another article.
