A key success factor in providing a rich Internet experience for connected consumer devices, be they mobile phones or other consumer electronics, is to ensure that the browsing experience fits the device experience. Browsing a Web site on a mobile phone with a 3-in. touchscreen is a very different experience from browsing the same Web site on a 42-in. connected digital TV. 

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To users, however, the browsing experience needs to be consistent with the experience they expect of the device. Thus, the onus is on the browser software to become a platform upon which the differing hardware and interface characteristics of any device can be easily accommodated and customized. By evolving the NetFront Browser to a platform approach, we can now easily deploy the browser to thousands of different models of connected devices in a time-to-market manner.

Land Of The Rising Technology

But while the U.S. may be leading in Internet usage, the world’s most advanced mobile Internet market is Japan, where innovation has already extended beyond mobile to connected consumer devices of all sorts. At present, a major difference between those who live in Japan and those who live in the U.S. is that most Japanese consumers rely on their mobile phones (known as “keitai”), and not their PCs, for Internet access. 

Japanese mobile phones are a technology lover’s dream, which may be why Japan is known as a “keitai culture.” These keitais not only are fully ready for Internet and e-mail, they also double as mobile TVs, music players, digital video cameras, credit cards, portable navigation devices, boarding passes, e-book and comic readers, and much more.

In addition, in Japan, consumer devices have become sophisticated connected devices. A car navigation system, for example, could customize weather forecasts as drivers travel to their destinations. Or, a refrigerator could feature Web widgets that suggest what fruit is in season and available at a local grocery store. The advances that have already taken place in Japan demonstrate the possibilities for the future of the U.S. mobile and connected devices market.

As the world evolves to an always-on society, innovations in connected devices and services need to be complemented with a communications backbone and networking infrastructure to support the demands of the connected generation. Not only will this new decade see growth in bandwidth demand and network reliability, but also innovations that are brought forth by smart infrastructure, such as intelligent networks, smart meters, and smart grids. Again, Japan is a leader in the deployment of intelligent infrastructure.

For 2010 and beyond, the mobile phone will continue to provide a full Internet browsing experience. But the Connected Generation will demand more. These consumers will expect all their devices to be connected—not only to the Internet, but also interconnected with each other—which means the underlying network needs to provide a seamless connected experience across all consumer electronic devices. The magic formula behind creating compelling connected devices is in combining innovative embedded software with a great user experience and reliable network services.