The mobile world is finally coming

We've been hearing for years about how the mobile world will take over and be a huge business with all sorts of implications. I've never agreed with this. A mobile device is just too crippled in size and speed to be useful.

While I still believe we won't fully replace the desktop with mobile devices (or even 10% of the desktop's uses), I have just bought into the mobile hype. I finally get it.

Let's look at my last 2 hours:

I started by leaving my apartment, pulling out my Blackberry Pearl and getting directions to the airport -- with traffic information -- from mobile google maps.

I arrived at the airport, checked in, and passed security. I bought three magazines - Time (which includes an article on a UChicago prof you may have heard of named Barack Obama, as well as an article on Web 2.0 companies), Business 2.0 (The Next Disruptors), and Fast Company (the design issue).

Walking down the hall, I pass a group of very cute girls all wearing matching Univeristy of Oregon jackets. Took out the Pearl and opened espn.com and checked the football schedule of Oregon. Turns out they're playing Washington State tomorrow in Washington. Looks like I found the cheerleading squad.

Next I sat down and started reading Fast Company where I read a review about a book named The Starfish and the Spider. I had heard about this book before and liked the review. Out came the Pearl again. I figured I would pull up amazon and get a bit of info after scrolling through many screens of non-mobile optimized pages.

Instead, what I received was a fantastic site optimized for a phone. A simple logo, search box, and a couple links. I search for the book, it comes up quickly as the first result. I click to the detail page, stripped of everything but the title, price, and a buy now button. I click the buy now button, which returns a page to sign in and it will place an order for this book with my 1-click settings. Done.

Now I'm writing this post from the airport where I'm waiting for a flight to Los Angeles. Needless to say, I'm convinced. With GPRS EDGE we are finally at the days speeds that any and all of this becomes totally accessible.

I'm finally ready to repeat what I've been hearing for years: the mobile space will be the one to watch in the next 2 years. It may just be the next big revolution.