The Evolution of Communication Technology

Smartphones and Mobile Apps (2007)

When the smartphone revolution gained momentum in the late 2000s (largely in part with the Apple iPhone launch), they quickly became substitutions for digital cameras, personal gaming devices and even PCs and laptops. With this success came a lot of speculation on how the devices would impact business. Employees could accomplish more on the go and were not tied down to their desks. Today, with millions of apps available for both Apple devices and Android, the possibilities of what smartphones can do are limitless. There are apps for messaging, videoconference calls, storing documents, filing expense reports; organizations are even creating their own apps for employees to do business. The workplace has changed dramatically with the influence of the smartphone, and with the flexibility of these smart mobile devices, people are more productive. Mary Meeker’s 2015 Internet Trends report found that 45 percent of millennials use their personal smartphones for work purposes (versus 18 percent for older generations). In recent years, the concept of “bring your own device” (BYOD) has become widely discussed as IT departments attempt to merge employees’ mobility with company security.