The phone's not just a phone any more

The mobile phone no longer is used for just talking... it's no longer a phone, it has turned into a technology hub to serve your computer/pda/tv/ipod needs. The applications that the mobile platform currently supports lets you bank, buy stocks, order food, make reservations and do everything under the sun at your finger tips. Facebook, LinkedIn, Foursquare and other social media sites have basically taken the mobile route. And with location registry, instant messaging and twitter, you basically the world now knows where you are and what's on your mind before you yourself know it :) Every industry is, and will increasingly be affected by mobile devices and location-sensing technology. What we're seeing today in the arenas of local commerce, deals, and productivity is only the beginning. With Internet and location-enabled phones in the hands of billions all around the world, the future of mobile location is rapidly becoming our future as an advanced civilization.

As the new terminology puts it - SoLoMo (social, location, and mobile) is a trend larger than any single app or company, and it will encompass every industry on the planet. The future of mobile location will see the integration of location-enabled features and insights into every product you touch and every process you engage in during the course of your life, providing great efficiencies and incredibly valuable insights. Products like FitBit, Tripit, and RunKeeper are already leveraging location-aware smartphones to provide users with reports about their health, travel, or exercise habits. You can expect nearly every product you touch to eventually provide this type of personal data to you. The emergence of mobile location over the last few years has laid the foundation for anywhere computing, and the future of that is exactly what the name says: anywhere computing. I expect the next generation of devices such as your home appliances, your car, and your television to engage with you, and to know where you are and what you're doing. What truly excites me as an entrepreneur, an investor, and a consumer, is that everything I have mentioned is already at work in our lives and the speed of its integration is remarkable. As it relates to mobile location, the future truly is now.