Ubiquity

first of two parts

A Great Advantage

Microsoft won the microcomputer desktop by becoming the most ubiquitous platform.

The advantage of having a platform used by most people in most places is so obvious that we might take it for granted.

Potential advantages include: lower training, less cost for initial purchase, fewer installation troubles, greater portability and access to information.

The dot.com boom came in part because of an appreciation for ubiquity.

The Internet still promises to facilitate ubiquitous access for business transactions between any customer, any provider, any time, any place, using any computing device.

When enough of the promise of this ubiquity becomes realized, we will take it for granted.

Saying something is 'connected to the Internet' will become an anachronism, because it will be assumed or forgotten.

Keeping in touch anytime anywhere.

Telephones, cell phones, and voice mail are examples of ubiquitous communication technologies most of us have used for years.

People can keep in touch with others anytime, anywhere.

Quite often, this kind of communication doesn't have to happen immediately.

In fact, we often prefer that people leave messages we can check later.

Obviously, all of us also rely on the web and email for ubiquitous communication.

Ubiquitous email.

I strongly recommend using web mail if you value the ability to read and send your email from anywhere.

The popular web mail services, such as Yahoo! and Hotmail, allow for you to pull in your email from your current email accounts.

Currently all of my email is piped into a web email account.

I read email from anywhere there is a web browser - libraries, schools, and work places.

At home I pull the web email into Outlook Express.

The only downside to web email is that you get more spam.

Additionally, small, portable email devices such as the BlackBerry are becoming popular. They are used, for example, at some car dealerships.

 

Ubiquitous bookmarks.

There are services that allow you to access bookmarks or favorite links from anywhere.

This is very handy for presentations or client engagements.

One advantage with this is that you don't have to remember long, awkward web and FTP addresses, no matter where you are.

One such service is Yahoo! Bookmarks.

more on Ubiquity in the next the180

Posted April 2, 2003
By Joe Grant