See more news from ZDNet

Author: John
Created: 9/24/2009 2:05:59 PM
In: Development

Make no mistake, there's a change in the air. Smartphones are fast becoming ubiquitous and over the next year or two, we're going to see a major shift in how people access the internet. Devices that used to be business-only are now in the hands of everyday users and that means rethinking your internet strategy. Internet access for the average user is going to no long involve a walk over to the computer. Instead, the internet is now clipped to the belt, tucked in the purse, and available in seconds - anytime, anywhere.

A wave new handheld devices offered by Verizon, TMobile, Sprint and AT&T this fall, along with the rise of Twitter and success of social networking site Facebook means more and more people are connected full time while mobile, not just when they happen to be near a computer.

Smart companies are already making changes to their online presence. Among the changes we're seeing...

1. Twitter: Many businesses are now monitoring Twitter, and Facebook, to measure customer reaction, compliments and complaints about their business. The arrival of the mobile web enables anyone armed with a cellphone to vent freely to their followers about any experience, including a bad one with a company or organization. Groups from airlines to retail, service providers to manufacturers, have begun checking up on their business name on Twitter and some are even actively responding to complaints from users who vent to their friends, or "followers", about a poor experience.
   
   Real Example: I recently became frustrated with QWest over a connection issue that appeared to be hundreds of miles away on their network, and after getting nowhere with their frontline support, announced via Twitter that I was getting tired of them and might be looking for a new ISP for my home. Within 5 minutes, I had a response from TalkToQWest asking what the problem was and how they could help resolve it. Now that's impressive!
   
   For a good article explaining the value of Twitter as a company communication tool and how some businesses are using it to manage perceptions and complaints, click here
   
   
2. Website: If your website is a portal to your company, do you have a mobile version yet? Mobile web surfers may rival, or even outstrip, the number computer-based surfers in the future, so if your website is to remain viable in the future, developing a mobile-friendly version should be on your radar.
   
   
3. Internal Support: Do you have a mobile workforce? Besides email, what tools do they have? Can travelling salespeople place orders through a private area of your website from their blackberry, iPhone or other smart handheld?
   

The shift from computer-based internet to mobile-based connectivity is under way, and like most technology changes, the rate will accelerate over time. It's probably safe to say that within the next two years, smartphones will be the default device offered by most cellphone providers in the USA. This could mean that more people will one day access the internet from a handheld device than from a computer!

Begin the conversation, and talk about ways you can leverage this change to the benefit of your business - both from a productivity, and sales perspective.

 © Copyright 2010 Iowa Solutions, Inc - All Rights Reserved