If you were at the recent IAB Engage for Mobile conference, then you would have heard it from the horse’s mouth: “We are at the very start of a revolution where the internet and mobile devices collide and it’s going to change world over the next three years.”

Google’s UK and Ireland managing director, Matt Brittin, says that faster, better connections, clever devices, less cost and the cloud are key factors that will drive what he calls the mobile revolution.

There have been a few stories of late that confirm Brittin’s predictions, that indeed, everyone is going mobile—even centenarians, like Virginia. At 100-years-old, Virginia bought an iPad, her very first computer. She’s using it to read online, saying she had been previously unable to do this with her visual impairment.

I’m no computer techy myself, but I have to admit, I haven’t turned on my home PC in about three months—ever since I got my iPhone for my 35th birthday. I don’t really argue with my husband anymore, because all disagreements are promptly stopped with a swift reach for a mobile, and a “Let’s just see who’s right,” kind-of comment.

I see this mobile revolution on my hour commute to and from the office every day. People are glued to their iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry or some sort of mobile device, heads pointed down, following the masses, without ever really looking up.

Convenience, reliability, affordability, portability are just some of the benefits associated with mobile devices. Apple’s Steve Jobs predicts “the end of the PC era is nigh”, and that desktops and laptops as we know them, will be a thing of the past within a few short years.

So what does this mean for the iGaming industry?

Change is on the way, that much I think is clear. In March, we blogged about how it was becoming more important to start developing for these smaller-screened devices, and how it really shouldn’t be such a big step for players to reach for their mobile device when they want to play bingo, poker, slots—or what have you.

The popularity of apps is astonishing. Apple recently launched the Game Center app for the new iPhone iOS 4 which would help iPhone Game Developers bring more interactivity to their games. It’s interesting, because this feature plays on gamers’ need for a community—which is not too dissimilar to the iGaming industry.

For affiliates, it’s time to become mobile web compliant. Players are on the go, and will need to be catered to if you are to remain competitive.

For operators, many are already taking the steps to reach a mobile audience. Ladbrokes recently teamed up with Mfuse to provide iPhone users with a live sportsbetting service, increasing their reach and attracting new customers to their business.

The future is mobile is now. How has it changed your iGaming business?

• The Revolution Will be Small
• Device Divergence: Managing Advertisements across Multiple Platforms Part 1
• Top 10 Mobile Searches for 2009
• 2012: No Stopping the Mobile Gaming Industry
• Who Says Mobile Poker is Only for Micro-Stakes?

Tagged as: mobile

2 people have already commented. Get in on the action.