The past year has been an exciting one for wireless device manufacturers, service providers and their customers. The year ahead is shaping up to be just as exciting. From the impact of the iPhone to the possibility of open networks driven in part by Google’s (News - Alert) initiatives, big changes are afoot.

 

To get some perspective on these developments, TMCnet turned to George Tuvell (News - Alert), founder and CTO at SMobile Systems, a company that providers mobile security solutions.

 

 

GT: This is referring to the evolution of mobile network technology, which in turn will increase the number of mobile Internet users. The mobile data speeds are still slow compared with what consumers are used to seeing on their PCs. Soon, with the major network upgrades in progress (e.g. AT&T, Verizon, Sprint (News - Alert)) , users will see similar speeds on their mobile phones as they do on their PCs.

 

 

GT: In the network upgrades arena, AT&T and Verizon are pushing for Long Term Evolution (LTE), the next generation GSM technology that brings broadband speeds. Sprint is pushing for WiMAX, which provides similar speeds.

 

Open access is also an exciting area. Soon, users will be able to purchase any device, and bring that device onto any network. Consumers will not be restricted to using only the devices that are offered by their carrier.

 

With open access comes open devices. Devices are becoming more open, allowing third party developers to build any application. The content on the phone is no longer controlled by a carrier walled garden. Most recent examples are the introduction of the iPhone (News - Alert) and Google Android platform. 

 

 

GT: These changes are going to increase the ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) for providers. Voice revenues are on the decline, and the market in U.S. is very saturated. Carriers need to offer extremely fast data speeds to retain existing subscribers, and to drive new revenue from data usage.

 

For consumers, these changes are bringing the mobile experience much closer to that of the PC. They can pick and choose which device, carrier, and applications they want to use. Consumers in the U.S. have never seen this before.

 

On the downside, as we move closer to a PC model, the risk of viruses and intrusions increases dramatically.

 

 

GT: The main benefit is being able to access Internet services from anywhere. Users will no longer be tethered to a PC, or need to run to a WiFi hotspot to fire up a laptop. They can check their e-mail, news, YouTube (News - Alert) subscriptions, listen to streaming music etc., all directly from their mobile and at broadband speeds. Additional services such as checking a bank balance, queuing up a bill pay, or even paying for an item will also be available options.

 

 

GT: As devices turn into mini-PC’s, it becomes easier for hackers to develop and deploy malware and viruses.

 

 

GT: Mobile users today are already faced with the threats of viruses and malware. There are many vectors of attack, including Bluetooth, Infrared, WiFi, SD cards, SMS/MMS, and browsing the Internet. We’ve seen thousands of viruses to date that have propagated over these vectors.

 

In the future, the number and the sophistication of attacks will only increase. Faster network speeds along with open access gives hackers a broader target. We are already seeing a glimpse of this, with the evolution of spyware. Users hit by mobile spyware are victim to an intruder who can monitor all voice calls, messages, track location, and even activate the microphone to listen to a conversation.

 

We will also see targeted attacks on mobile banking services. As more people begin using their devices for basic banking needs, their identities will be at risk. Hackers will generate phishing attacks and targeted spyware to steal user credentials, just as we have seen on the PC.

 

 

GT: Today, consumers should look to their wireless carrier for basic security on mobile devices. Anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-spam, and firewall protection are basic security services. In addition, if you are storing credentials on your device, or sensitive corporate data, you should have additional security in place. This includes encryption, lock and wipe, and backup and restore. 

 

 

GT: It’s a great thing. Not to pick on AOL, but that company provides a great example of why open networks are a winning proposition for the consumer. AOL was a walled garden in the beginning, and users were limited to their content. As additional Internet service provider options became available to consumers, many of them started to migrate over to the open Internet. In the end, that model won. Computer users today pick their machine, pick their service provier, select their applications and off they go. If at any point in time they want to switch any one of the components, they can freely do so.

 

The mobile market should not be treated any differently. Users should be free to pick the best device that suits their needs, the carrier that provides the best service in their area, and any applications that they want to use. If one day they decide they want Yahoo! e-mail, and the next day it’s Gmail, they should have the right to make the switch.

 

In the end, with the open model the consumers win.

 

 

GT: Don’t be reactive and wait until it’s too late to protect yourself. For very little money you can be fully protected, and feel safe when subscribing to all the new and great mobile services and applications.