Surveillance of Phones

When Snowden leaked the information about the government collecting phone service data, was anyone really that surprised? Hasn't everyone already assumed this? Everything we do in the digital realm -- from surfing the Web to sending an e-mail to conducting a credit card transaction to, yes, making a phone call -- creates a data trail. And if that trail exists, chances are someone is using it -- or will be soon enough. Big data analysis works by identifying patterns and anomalies in our behavior. Nobody cares about the reasons why certain people do certain things. They only need to be able to predict the future. As those of us that had exposure to statistics, you will know that to spot the anomalies, there needs to be a good database of information. The silver lining in all of this is the fact that the transparency can go both ways. The digital trail of the government or businesses are just as transparent as the public's records. Just something to keep in mind.

Next Steps in the Mobile Phone Market

The market of mobile phones is pretty saturated and more or less bursting at the seams. With all the amazing technology available, the question that potential customers will be asking themselves is not whether they like the screen or operating system but whether it is compatible with all the other existing gadgets such as the car and the TV. Phone services are also straying away from the old fashion land line as it is seem by the fact that many people actually just get rid of that service at their homes. The first wave was seen by the smartwatches. Many of the big companies will be rolling out with the watches in the coming year and they will act as an extension of the phone. Car and home integration are going to be soon to follow. For example, iOS 7 is going to have car connectivity options. What are your thoughts on the shift in the mobile market.