Mobile Trends to look out for in 2014

Mark Byrne | Digital Marketing Specialist | Ward Technology Talent | Twitter | LinkedIn

The mobile industry continues to grow and innovate at an incredible rate. After consulting my tarot cards, tea leaves and old friend Google, here are some mobile trends I think you should keep your eye on in the coming year.

Mobile ownership will surpass PC in 2014

It’s been on the horizon for a while now but according to IDC Canada, 2014 is the year that cell phone and tablet ownership will overtake PC ownership.

With this, businesses are going to experience a shift in website traffic coming from mobile as opposed to desktop. Companies need to adapt to this and take into account the user experience of the mobile user. People are famously impatient when it comes to their mobile experience and if your site doesn’t tick their box they’ll move on to your competitor’s site  in about 3 seconds.

Rise of Mobile Payments

In the United States, a 48% annual increase in mobile payments is projected, increasing from $18 billion this year to $90 billion in 2017. Just as taxi apps are becoming the norm for consumers ordering taxis, mobile payments will go mainstream this year.

With the introduction of Apple’s iBeacon, a feature that uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology to trigger alerts in a user’s app up to a 50-meter radius, we will see bricks and mortar stores getting in on the action. iBeacon is currently being used at events and stand-alone locations (baseball stadiums) but will gain traction in high-traffic areas like shopping centres and high streets.

Wearable Tech Goes Mainstream

Business Insider reported that the market for wearable technology will grow substantially in 2014. Shipments are expected to be 100 million in 2014. Every time we walk down the street we see someone using their mobile; wearable tech is going to satisfy this need for us to become closer to technology. We’re on track to singularity.

The Second Screen

50% of Canadians have a device most of the time while watching TV. Shows such as Breaking Bad have already taken advantage of the second screen and increased engagement with it’s show. Breaking Bad’s ‘Story Sync’ offered polls, trivia and video to complement the second greatest TV show in the history of TV shows (second to Father Ted). Extending the viewer experience allows audiences to interact directly with the content.

In 2014, we’re going to see content industries fragmenting their content between the TV and smartphones. Traditionally offline TV experiences will be brought online through second screen more and more.

Beer Store Drone Delivery Service?

We can hope and pray.