Cloud Computing for Mobile Devices to Surge in 2009

As a growing number of people come to rely on portable devices, such as mobile phones and lightweight laptops, critical data is no longer located solely at home, at the office or in a wallet.

But with the help of something called cloud computing, this data can be easily accessed by connecting to the vast memory of the Internet “cloud”. 

"There’s a lot of buzz about this. Everybody wants to be connected to everything everywhere," Laura DiDio, an analyst with Information Technology Intelligence Corp., told Reuters.

Cloud computing for mobile devices is surging alongside the rapid expansion of high-speed wireless networks throughout the world.

"You’re in a car driving someplace. Not only do you want directions, you want weather reports. You want know what are the best hotels around, where are the restaurants," DiDio said.

That type of information is available in cars and most other places through devices such as mobile phones, "netbook" laptops connected to wireless air cards, and even some high-end navigation systems.

The inception of the cloud began during the mid-1990s, when companies such as Yahoo Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. began allowing consumers to manage communications, appointments and shopping over the Internet.

The idea expanded after firms such as Google Inc. launched free programs similar to Microsoft Word and Powerpoint.  All that was needed was an ordinary PC with an Internet connection, a wireless handheld computer or phone such as Apple Inc.’s iPhone.

But now, users can take a picture with their mobile phone camera and  email it to a free photo-editing site such as Picnik.com.  Additionally, firms such as Rearden Commerce offer "personal assistants" that manage airline and restaurant reservations via Research in Motion Ltd’s BlackBerry.

The Internet cloud, which also stores music, photos and documents that might be lost if a mobile device or PC were damaged, also supports social networks such as MySpace and Facebook.

"Cloud computing is going to accelerate. It’s a no brainer," said Nielsen IAG analyst Roger Entner.

"The stronger the wireless networks become and the more ubiquitous they become, the easier it is to put things on the cloud,” he told Reuters.

Companies such as Hewlett-Packard Co., Dell Inc. and Asustek Computer Inc., have successfully promoted "netbooks" over the past two years.  Netbooks are essentially smaller, less expensive, stripped down laptops designed primarily for Web access netbooks. They typically have little storage capacity and come without DVD drives.

However, they are becoming increasingly popular.  Indeed, nine of Amazon’s 10 top-selling laptops are netbooks, whereas in the past consumers paid a premium for smaller, often high-end, laptops.

"Netbooks hit an immediate sweet spot because of the price point," Enderle Group analyst Rob Enderle told Reuters.

Hotmail, now owned by Microsoft Corp., pioneered the use of Web-based services back in the mid-1990s.  Today, one of the most widely used and easily accessible cloud services is Web-based email, which works on ordinary laptops and netbooks.

Web-based services are rapidly being adopted on "smart" mobile phones with PC-functions, such as the Blackberry and the iPhone, as well as a new generation of handsets from companies such as Nokia and Palm Inc.

Experts expect a heightened focus on cloud-based applications throughout next year.

"There’s no way to stop it," said Enderle.

"It’s just a case of getting more and more consumer offerings based in the cloud."