We all know that mobile technology has passed through several “generations”. In a mere 10-15 years, it has went from huge handsets and low network coverage (of the 1st generation) to colorful displays, high speeds and mobile internet (of the 3rd generation).

So have mobile services - all these fun and useful things one can do with his or her mobile besides talking. In less than a decade, mobile phone has become exacltly what Howard Rheingold once predicted: “a remote control for our life“.

In somewhat simplified terms, the evolution of mobile services and their provision has been the following:

First generation

In the late 90ies, only mobile operator could provide a mobile service. Mobile services were few and far between. Nobody really used the phones for anything else besides talking.

Second generation

In the early 2000ies, with the emergence of SMS-service providers, the mobile (or SMS)-services went to a boom. New services started out everywhere, ranging from wallpapers and melodies, text-to-win campaigns, SMS-chat and voting in TV, SMS-based info services, SMS-payments etc. etc. Texting became hugely popular, and not only among the young.

Third generation

However, as it turned out, providing a mobile service was still expensive and feasible only to bigger brands and mobile service providers. Only now, in line with the rise of blogging and social networks, a new trend in mobile service provision emerging - where everyone can create their own SMS-service as easy as setting up a homepage or a blog.

Fortumo is happy to be part of this exciting development.