MIDs, UMPCs and the iPhone

One of the trends in the CES show earlier this month was the rise of MIDs (Mobile Internet Devices). MIDs are basically ultra portable internet consoles. Unlike laptops or PDAs, they do not have to run any Windows (or other platform) applications - they can run only one application: a web browser.

The MIDs are in fact a branch in the UMPC (Ultra Mobile PC) family, and while UMPCs are designed to be just very small PCs (with operating systems, ability to install and run applications, store things locally etc.), the MID are less "ambitious" but in my opinion, more to the point of what most mobile users need.

The MIDs are small and lightweight (naturally), typically have a 4.5-7 inch displays, and some creative keyboard solutions (blackberry-like small keys, a sliding keyboard under the screen, touch screen keyboard etc.). Also, their processor does not have to be cutting-edge, and in fact Intel is developing several weak processors especially for MIDs.

Now, a few years back, this would have been a weak solution for on the go computing, since you can't do anything when you're offline, and also you cannot run applications such as Microsoft Office.

However, there are two things that changed over the last few years that make those two arguments obsolete:

1. Applications have migrated online

A few years ago, it was Sun Microsystems who coined the term "The network is the computer". Everybody was talking about online applications stored and managed centrally, accessed by users who pay per use or license it for a certain period of time instead of the model where you buy a piece of software, install it locally and use it indefinitely (or until the next version comes out...).

Sun did a lot to make that vision happen, but on the consumer applications side, it was Google that really made it. While reading emails online is old news (so last millennium...) Google's GMail was truly innovative for its time, and eliminated the slowness problem most webmails had (and still have). In addition with Google Calendar you can manage your calendar and with Google Documents you can read and write documents, presentations and worksheets. Now I know Microsoft's Office is still better - but give it time... And don't get me started on the killer app of them all - Google Maps...

Aside from Google there are a lot of other great services available online. Today with AJAX technologies you can make great fast apps that require just a simple browser. With the addition of two standard plugins - Java and Flash you can also play online games and have access to advanced applications.

In short, Sun's vision is no longer a vision, it is happening, and while people have been saying that for quite a while, today I can say personally that I use mostly web-based services. I find it very convenient as my data is accessible from anywhere and I don't have to sync computers, move files manually (disk on key) etc.


2. You can't be productive offline

When I find myself with my laptop but there's no WiFi around, I do all sorts of things: I am cleaning my desktop, removing installed applications, moving files from folder to folder - in short my productivity is similar to the productivity of a painter that has colors.

Today we read the news on the web, we communicate with our friends and colleagues (email, IM, VoIP, social networking), we search for almost about anything (and find it!), we read articles, make our travel arrangements, bid on and purchase stuff, check our financials and perform financial actions (bank accounts, stock portfolio, credit cards etc.), blog and more.

When your computer is offline - it is disabled. You can't do at least 80% of the things you would usually do. I will repeat once again Sun's motto: The network is the computer. As simple as that.

Another element that helped us get addicted to the internet is the rise of WiFi networks. If you are on the go, you would have no problem finding internet access in your hotel, coffee house or even in the train.


To sum it up, it seems to me that MIDs are about to get popular. They are definitely a great solution for mainstream users (and even advanced ones). In fact, one MID that got really popular although it wasn't necesarily sold as such is the iPhone...

The iPhone fits the criteria of MID, and is in-fact a very well-done MID, keeping things smart and simple, and focusing on the real things mobile user need. It also have the mobile phone functionality, which gives you extra mobility in the rare cases where you can't find WiFi... (By the way, voice calls is not something it adds - since you can do those in MIDs with various VoIP programs, today it's sometimes complicated, but it will get easier as more and more people will be always connected).

So it's no surprise Apple sold over 1 million iPhones in one quarter, and I do believe that this is certainly an indicator not only to the mobile phone industry, but also to UMPCs and MIDs (The borders are getting a bit blurry, aren't they?...)