The future in three words – “Universal Data Plan”

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Like most people, I’ve got a bunch of mobile electronic "stuff" in my life. Stuff such as:

  • iPhones
  • Laptops / iPads
  • Portable GPS Units
  • Watches
  • Automobiles

All of these items are mobile – meaning they are not stationary objects like a printer or desktop computer are.

The problem is – none of these items are interoperable. The introduction of the iPad shines a bright light on this problem. My guess is that most people with an iPad also will have either an iPhone, or another smart phone. But if you want mobile Internet connectivity from the iPad, you will need to take out another Internet data plan. Why can’t I tether my iPad to my iPhone?

But this opportunity is much bigger than just sharing my iPhone data plan with my iPad or laptop.

While I was in Florida last week, my GPS unit continually returned bad results because the mapping and point-of-interest (POI) data is over two years old. Why can’t my GPS unit use my iPhone’s data plan for mapping and POI searches.

Why can’t my watch use my iPhone to synchronize the time.

Why can’t my car sync it’s stereo, GPS, and clock with my iPhone.

I’m sick of saying "why can't…" The future is a single universal data plan. The plan can be tied directly to a mobile phone, or the mobile phone can just be another user of the plan.

Do you think this will be the norm in ten years?

Top