US Mobile Trends
I’ve just returned from the States and it’s remarkable to see the transformation in mobile culture since my last visit.
Riding the subway in New York City is always a great opportunity to people-watch. It’s far more fun than riding the tube, as there’s usually more room and Americans (especially New Yorkers) are generally more outgoing than your average Brit (being Canadian, I can draw on my country’s rich heritage of smugly slagging off both countries safe in the knowledge that, even if I get injured in the process, our superlative free health care system will have me right as rain in no time). I’m no sociologist, it’s hard to ignore a trend taking root in the Big Apple that I saw germinating in the UK more than a decade ago: people glued to their mobiles on public transport.
But they’re not necessarily talking - texting, gaming, wifi-ing, bluetoothing, and watching/listening to media - but not talking. And as with the UK, it’s the kids wot are doing it. Strangely, though, the market is getting more homogeneous and, just like in the UK, is getting less customer-orientated (substitute O2 for Vodaphone in this open letter and you’ll get a good idea of my recent experiences).
It’s no surprise, then, that mobile find (or “human-assisted search”) is now making its way into the US as well, with services such as Cha Cha and Johnny27 two new contenders. Texperts has had its eyes on the US for quite some time and will be making some exciting moves in the not-too-distant future. Watch this space!
