For the past few decades, it is hard to think of any other devices that have transformed the modern life more than the smartphone. Nowadays, smartphones come with integrated cameras, operating systems, and other emerging technologies, enabling them to function like desktop computers. The reliability, accuracy, and richness of decision-making that comes along with smartphones make it almost impossible to live without them.
With a smartphone, an individual can play games, listen to the music, watch videos, view and edit documents, and anything else someone could do online or offline using the desktop computer. It is hard to imagine a day without a mobile phone in a modern day life. Numerous applications for various platforms, be it Android, Apple, or any other, have been developed and are just a click away from downloading depending on various user specific needs. The popularity of smartphones is increasing in the public with more pace than it is in corporations (Sarwar and Soomro, 2013).
Mobile devices can download hundreds of thousands of applications to support collaboration, location-based services, and communication with colleagues. With their texting, mail, and video conferencing capabilities, smartphones are very popular among managers, who are increasingly using them to coordinate work, communicate with employees, and provide information for decision-making (Laudon and Laudon, 2014). These developments are referred to as “emerging mobile digital platform.” Organizations can now rely on telework, remote work, and distributed decision-making, as well as outsource more work and rely on markets rather than employees to build values. According to Sarwar and Soomro, M-commerce is the fastest growing form of e-commerce (2013). In fact, some areas are expanding at a rate exceeding 50% per year, where it is projected to grow to $ 150 billion in 2016.
Unfortunately, according to Laudon and Laudon, the technology that comes with smartphones has a ripple effect, which is raising new social, ethical, and political issues that must be dealt with on the individual, social, and political levels (2014).All in all, in the next few years, smartphones will become the single most important digital device in the world.
References
Laudon, K. C., & Laudon, J. P. (2014). Management information systems. Edinburgh Gate: Pearson Education Limited
Sarwar, M., & Soomro, T.Q. (2013). Impact of Smartphone’s on Society. European Journal of Scientific Research, 98, 216-226