Mobile technology trends for 2019

Featured article by Fred Anderson, Independent Technology Author

Over the past 10-15 years, we have seen mobile technology become bigger, faster and smarter. A mobile device’s security used to be a 4-digit passcode, and in the present day, many mobile devices use facial recognition to identify a user. In many industries, security has always been of importance, especially where online transactions are being made, a fundamental part for online retailers, merchants and gambling sites. Strict security measures are put in place, typically by 2-step verifications that the likes of Google uses, or encryptions, where members of PartyCasino can expect to have their data protected by a 128-bit encryption when logging in from their mobile devices.

New methods and technologies are constantly being developed for mobile platforms and most businesses embrace and incorporate new solutions to improve the user experience. Here are three trends which we are likely to see throughout 2019 with mobile technology.

Mobile development of the future

As developers turn to frameworks such as React Native and NativeScript, and technologies like progressive web apps (PWAs), cross-platform mobile development is becoming more viable. PWAs, which have the best features from native and web apps, are becoming very popular amongst mobile developers. The interface in a native app and a PWA are very similar, meaning development is a simple transition.

Michael Facemire, Vice President and Principal Analyst at Forrester Research believes PWAs will soon be the standard for mobile app development. React Native and NativeScript mean that developers can write one code for Apple iOS and Android.

EMM changes

The Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) market is likely to see big changes this year, as the focus changes from Mobile Device Management (MDM) and EMM to Unified Endpoint Management (UEM). UEM combines desktops, wearables and IoT devices. UEM tools have the features of MDM and EMM.

In 2016, BlackBerry rebranded its EMM suite to a UEM platform. In May 2018, Citrix changed XenMobile to Citrix Endpoint Management. Citrix is encouraging its EMM customers to migrate from on premises to the cloud. The market will see more changes once further AI is rolled out and security is improved, and should complement EMM.

Smartphones will get smarter with improved AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become more and more mainstream over recent years and that trend looks to continue throughout 2019. Mobile devices use AI technology with virtual assistants, chatbots and OSes. Huawei and Qualcomm chips are already AI capable. The plan over the next few years is for mobile users to be able to use their voice to completely control their device.

Virtual assistants are intended to be so intelligent that they will determine which apps the user needs to use and will run them accordingly. Increased use of AI will mobile technology means greater security for users and businesses. The AI will be able to detect if the device is in the possession of somebody else through voice recognition and behaviour. If new apps are installed that don’t line up with what a user would usually be interested in all of a sudden, security prompts can appear to ask the user to verify themselves.