Today IBM announced the launch of a new initiative to research and develop new mobile technologies for the ‘Era of the Mobile Web.’ They have some really interesting goals in mind, such as better voice interaction, instant translation and platform independent mobile application architecture.
Another area that they mentioned is a Good Samaritan initiative that would make medical records available via the mobile web to first responders. While this would be a very valuable next generation capability, unfortunately I think we’re still a long way from securing the mobile web. Luckily this won’t be released prematurely since HIPPAA will prevent hospitals from releasing data via an unsecured channel.
This brings up the much larger question of mobile web security. If we are to truly share medical data or bring online transactions to the mobile web, we need much better privacy and security controls from both carriers and service providers. Otherwise we’ll find the same problems with wifi wardriving continuing into the mobile realm, with crackers listening to the airwaves to steal our credit card information and medical information.
My prediction is that mobile web usage will explode across the globe this year and we’ll be scrambling to secure it next year.
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