“5G is the platform for tomorrow’s economy.”
According to the president of CTIA, the U.S. has caught up with China and South Korea in the race to deploy 5G networks, expected to be in 92 cities by year end. CNN
dis-rup-shun: If 4G is the technology that enabled transformational companies such as Uber and Lyft, it is clear to see that 5G, at data rates 20 times faster than 4G (downloads at 20 Gb/s) will significantly impact our economy. A few disruptions coming: value and prices of today’s fiber infrastructure will decrease, meaning today’s 100 Mbps household connections, priced at $40 per month, will cost less than $10; streaming services such as Netflix will be faster and higher quality than traditional cable TV; smart cities will inexpensively connect traffic lights, street lights, garbage trucks, buses and police cars to create new efficiencies and higher service levels. Expect 2020 to be the beginning of a significant economic growth wave as new technologies are launched on top of 5G.
Why you will soon carry an Apple credit card
Last week Apple announced their new credit card, better described as personal payment platform, which will be available this summer. The account is tied to the Apple Wallet app, has a physical card with no account number, and each transaction must be authenticated through the Wallet app. The account has no annual fees and no late fees. TechCrunch
dis-rup-shun: Apple has done it again — listened to what customers want and implemented it. Tracking credit card numbers and transactions through an app is genius, as authentication through a mobile device will reduce fraud, increase visibility of how much and where you used your account, and increase stickiness. Competitors will implement authentication through an app that requires a login, while Apple’s wallet app, on iPhones, is one touch away. Of course this product will boost use of Apple Pay, and, voila, Visa, Mastercard and AMEX will find themselves with a cable TV problem (rapid loss of subscribers).
Why are you messing with my Inbox?
Wired covers the latest email applications, both free and paid. A host of companies are busy re-thinking the way you interact with email and devising better ways, including Edison’s encryption scheme and Outlook’s Focused tab.
dis-rup-shun: While it seems these companies are solving problems I never knew I had, they serve as examples of how AI is entering everyday apps and making decisions about what and where I see things. Expect our everyday productivity applications, such as the office suite, to soon feature interfaces that are customized to our work habits.
Smart kids play with smart Legos
Legos has announced Spike Prime, its $330 set that includes over 500 pieces and enables one to build a robot, hopefully boosting interest in STEM and engaging the creativity of digital natives.
dis-rup-shun: Remember when we were young and went over to each other’s houses to build and play with robots? I don’t either. The beleaguered toy industry has a chance to win back some youth from smart phones and game consoles — by becoming extensions of both. If Spike Prime has an app and enables interaction over social networks, it will keep young minds engaged far longer.