Mobile Cloud computing: Why is it worth using?

These days cloud computing technology is being discussed just about everywhere. People are excited and curious to know more and more about this latest technology and about its working pros and cons. Cloud computing is usually viewed in the context of web, business firms, and data servers. But it is not only business companies and personal computer users which are going to feel its impact; it will bring a major change in the mobile industry as well. Cloud computing is going to dominate the way in which mobile applications will operate in near future.

A new term “Mobile Cloud Computing” has been devised for a combination of cloud computing and mobile applications. In mobile cloud computing, data storage and data processing occurs outside the mobile device and results are displayed through screen or speakers. GPRS, Gmail, and Google Maps are already being used are pioneer examples of mobile cloud computing. In a few years time we can expect a major shift from traditional mobile application technology to mobile cloud computing.

Mobile cloud computing can give mobile device users a number of advantages. Company users are able to share resources and applications without a high level of capital expenditure on hardware and software resources. Due to the nature of cloud applications, users do not need to have highly technical hardware to use applications as complex computing operations are run within the cloud. This lessens the cost of mobile computing to the client. End users will see a plethora of unique features enhancing their phones because of mobile cloud computing. A few examples of such applications can be seen to emerge such as applications that give users the ability to watch home security systems and others which allow users to create location based social networks.

Developers also have real advantages from mobile cloud computing. The largest benefit of cloud computing for developers is that it allows them to have access to a larger market. Since cloud computing applications go through a browser, the end user’s mobile operating system does not have any impact on the application, meaning that they will be useable with any application that has a suitable browser. Because of the advanced improvement in mobile browsers thanks to Apple and Google over the past couple of years, nearly every mobile should have a suitable browser. This means developers will have a much wider market, means they can bypass the restrictions created by mobile operating systems.

Along with a bigger market, cloud computing offers developers the chance to build programs at a lower cost, and keep a larger share of the revenue. Since programmers only need to create one version of the application and still have access to every device user, their building costs will be reduced when compared with if they needed to make a new build for each mobile platform individually. Creating cloud programs also allows programmers to bypass application shops Apple’s App Store. This will ensure that programmers won’t have to pay a percentage of their revenue to the mobile platform owner.

Mobile cloud computing gives new company chances for mobile network providers. Several operators such as Orange, Vodafone and Verizon have started to offer cloud computing services for companies. These services give the chance for businesses to outsource the IT infrastructure, getting past huge capital investments in high spec hardware. These cloud services allow companies to pay resource costs such as data storing and program hosting. The network providers charge subscription fees for these services. Network operators also give security services for these networks, which shows another new opportunity available by cloud computing
A key challenge for cloud computing is network availability and intermittency. A cloud application needs a constant connection that might prove to be an Achilles heel for the cloud computing movement. However as mobile internet capabilities continue to get better, it is likely that solutions to this particular problem will become apparent. New programming languages such as HTML 5 already provide a solution by enabling data caching through a mobile device, and this allows a cloud application to continue working is a connection has been momentarily lost.

The refining of this new technology seems to be a new major step in mobile application development. Mobile cloud computing provides benefits for each agent within the mobile devices and applications sector. It expands the market, reduces the price of programs, reduce hardware requirements and provides unique chances for network operators. When mobile web capabilities gets to levels of usability to its desktop counterpart, cloud computing is likely to become a very popular method in developing, distributing and using mobile applications.

What do you think about mobile cloud computing? Is it right direction in mobile industry? What would expect from this technology? What would you say, is it worth using? 🙂