This past week did not go according to plan. Rather than overseeing a few special projects in the office and hovering over developers ’til the wee hours of the night, my company sent me out to Las Vegas for a few days to attend the AT&T Development Conference and do some networking at the CTIA 2009 Wireless Convention. Translation: I had to oversee a few special projects and hover over developers remotely via e-mails and by hassling the executive assistant while traveling, taking notes, collecting business cards and smiling at CEOs and CTOs from Corporate Giant #1, #2 and #3. That said, rather enjoyable. Rather informative. And definitely a wake-up call.

The future we read about as children with paper-thin LCD screen tablets, video phone watches, voice, eye and finger-print recognition home security systems, electronic high-fashion and flying cars is literally around the corner. Wait, make that knocking at the front door. And by that, I mean these things are already on the market, just at a price Joe Schmoe can’t afford yet. Okay, perhaps I’m overstepping a bit with the flying cars but I stand firm about the Versache watches with WiFi, 3g and 2-way video capabilities on the for sale rack. Technology has finally pushed its way into high-fashion. And thank God, too, because at least now our geeky little gadgets are gonna look real pretty. I suppose credit goes first to Apple for making geeky look sexy.

Now that’s the fun part but there’s also something dark brewing (pun intended) amidst us, something big. It’s a new war, a new sort of revolution that will undeniably affect us all in a major way. There won’t be guns, but there will be bankruptcies, buyouts and dare I say, corporate espionage. We all know the different mobile platforms, OTA networks, and operating systems; Windows Mobile, iPhone, RIM, BREW, J2ME, Symbian, UIQ (R.I.P.), GSM, CDMA, etc. And, likewise, we all know the agony they pose to software development companies, manufacturers and mobile carriers. The development costs, support and porting are enough to put even the largest company under in this tight economy in a millisecond. Many have already fallen. The truth is, companies that aren’t taking a stand choosing some over the others are dropping left and right.

There is only one natural conclusion, platform unification, at least in terms of software development. But that means large contracts, agreements, partnerships and putting the largest egos in the industry aside. It also means the reduction of anticipated profits and potentially a reduction in competition, inherently meaning a reduction in quality. Who’s to say; the market changes every week. Who knew Apple and Google would be the ones to change the face of mobile forever?

The most note-worthy contenders stepping up to address the mobile platform unification (MPU) challenge are Yahoo!’s BluePrint, Sony Ericsson’s Capuchin and AT&Ts new partners BONDI and ONE-API. Anyone catch the irony in having multiple MPUs? And no, it won’t stop here. It won’t stop next year either. There will be other contenders entering the arena and there will be blood.

Eventually, someone will win or we’ll all lose.

Frightening. Exciting. Amusing.

Just don’t be fooled by the glitz and glamour of it all. As high and glistening as the tides of the future of technology are, there is always the wrath of the undercurrent to follow. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

-Lex

P.S. – I forgot to mention Vegas nightlife. Coming soon…!