The launch of the fifth-generation wireless network, 5G, is expected to usher in a new era of improved data connectivity speeds and lower device-to-device latency. The widespread adoption of 5G will allow feature-length films to be downloaded in seconds, webpages to load significantly faster in crowded spaces and autonomous vehicles to become smarter.
The technology is poised to have a significant impact on global business, and LA tech companies are gearing up for 5G’s projected influence on mobile technology.
Josh Javaheri, CEO of mobile gaming company Lucky Day, said the overall efficiency of 5G will force companies to improve the speed at which they develop their offerings lest they be left behind. Meanwhile, at mobile video streaming service Quibi, Principal Engineer Jeremy Klein said 5G will allow his team to provide video content to their viewers at even greater speeds.
Outside of 5G, Javaheri and Klein said they expect other trends to affect the world of mobile in 2020; namely data security, augmented reality, machine learning and changes to hardware, like foldable phones and new sensor tech.
Quibi Principal Engineer Jeremy Klein said the reintroduction of foldable phones is something he’s watching, citing Quibi’s recently announced Turnstyle technology. The new tech allows streamers holding their mobile devices horizontally or vertically to switch between viewing experiences tailored for those orientations. Klein said adjusting to a phone with a unique viewing window could pose an interesting challenge for his team.
What are the top three mobile tech trends you’re watching that are significantly impacting the industry?
Three mobile tech trends I’m watching that significantly impact both Quibi and the industry as a whole are 5G, augmented and virtual reality and foldable devices.
5G is a game changer for connectivity speeds on-the-go. AR and VR experiences seem to get better and more immersive every time I try them. And new foldable devices like the revival of the Motorola Razr have me excited about the next generation of phone hardware.
5G is a game changer for connectivity speeds on-the-go.”
What under-the-radar mobile tech trends are you watching that the industry isn’t talking about?
As an Android engineer and user, a couple of technologies that I’ve been following are things like Instant Apps and new sensor tech, like the Soli sensors in the Pixel 4.
Instant Apps can provide a smooth, native experience for websites when you don’t want to install an app for an hour to browse a shopping site, for example. Soli opens the door to some cool gesture-based features, but I think it’s still looking for that one killer application. I’m also always keeping an eye on Google’s Fuschia project, which has some interesting new approaches to the foundation of mobile operating systems.
Google Fuschia
How are these trends affecting the future of your company specifically?
The timing of 5G is perfect for Quibi. We’re creating premium, on-the-go video content and 5G will allow us to consistently provide the best quality possible at high speeds. Foldable devices have presented an interesting challenge for us to consider with our Turnstyle technology because it means some devices have unusual aspect ratios and the ability to drastically change aspect ratios while watching content.
While this isn’t something we are targeting now, I could definitely see the potential for diving into things like AR, VR and Soli down the line to create even more immersive experiences.
Lucky Day CEO Josh Javaheri said mobile data security is an important topic he’s watching for the sake of his company’s users. Javaheri said scaling his data team is just one way Lucky Day will be boosting data security for their mobile users in the future.
What are the top three mobile tech trends you’re watching that are significantly impacting the industry?
Data. Companies need to improve how they manage their data. There’s no denying the obstacles that this has caused and will continue to cause companies. However, these changes will ensure that consumers’ information is safe.
With 5G expected to take off this year, mobile companies will need to change the way they create. Each generation becomes far more advanced than its predecessor, making it more difficult to catch up. 5G will change the tech industry in ways that we could never have imagined just two years ago.
Hyper-automation will also continue to affect the pace of technology and a part of that is machine learning. The next 10 years will be a time where “moving fast” is vital but the excitement of the future is clouding the difficulties to come. This may make or break tech companies, so now is the time to work toward the fast-moving future in tech.
5G will change the tech industry in ways that we could never have imagined just two years ago.”
What under-the-radar mobile tech trends are you watching that the industry isn’t talking about?
In a world where all information is in our pockets, it’s difficult to identify what’s under-the-radar anymore. AI is certainly known, but as a startup in the tech industry, we’re watching it closely. It’s important to monitor how companies are using this technology and understand how it will affect businesses moving forward. Some companies are working toward AI changes in ways that haven’t crossed minds throughout the globe and we’re excited to see these new ideas.
How are these trends affecting the future of your company specifically?
As a mobile gaming app, it’s extremely important to us that we manage our data and use it appropriately and effectively. We’re growing our data team because our players and their information are important to us. We want to protect our data and we will continue to monitor the big data changes that are coming and act accordingly.
With ML, we’re learning more than ever and we’re learning quickly. We look forward to adding more developers and engineers to help us build something efficient and exciting for consumers.
