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Feature: Page (1) of 1 - 10/06/08

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How the iPhone is Cloud Computing's Killer App

iPhone applications are changing how customers interact with their data, documents and files

By Matthew David

The iPhone has changed how the mobile phone market is viewed. More importantly, the iPhone applications are changing how customers interact with their data, documents and files. In this article, you will see how the iPhone is the tool that is exposing the potential of Cloud Computing to the masses and is converting this new technology to a mainstream solution. 
 
The function of Cloud Services
Internet services are maturing into a new breed of technologies. No longer do you just browse the Web. Now you can fully interact with Internet solutions. This is being done daily with services such as Yahoo's email or Google's App Services. The distinction that Cloud Services provide over traditional desktop or Web solutions is that it enables you to marry the best of both worlds. For instance, you can create a desktop client solution that consumes data hosted in a Cloud Service that can then be accessed from your phone. In this model, a rich client gives you the responsiveness you expect with the rich toolset you need with the reach of the Web.
 
The new poster child for consuming and exemplifying cloud services is Apple's iPhone. When Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone, he stated that the iPhone could do three things:

• It is your phone
• It is your iPod 
• It is the Internet in your pocket 

The third item did not get the thunderous applause the first two items did. The reality, however, is that the third item, "the Internet in your pocket," will be the lasting legacy for the iPhone.

The "Always On" generation
By definition, a mobile phone is always connected. It has to be, otherwise how would you get your calls. The iPhone has three ways in which it keeps the user connected to the Internet:

• EDGE
• 3G
• WiFi

These technologies keep the iPhone always connected. At the end of the day the iPhone is not just a phone. It is not just a so-called SmartPhone. It is a computer running a fully functional operating system sitting inside of a piece of hardware that is always connected. Checking email, weather, stocks is a simple as reaching into your pocket, holding your phone and scanning the data.
 
Assuming you have an "Always on" connection, you can assume that as part of your application architecture. Ad sponsored games now load pulling a Cloud Service that delivers advertising; social networks, identifying where your friends are in relationship to your current position, use cloud services to update data; even popular music services, such as AOL Radio, use cloud services to deliver the same Internet radio to your iPhone as sent to your PC. 

How the iPhone is reliant on Cloud Services
There are many devices on the market that allow you to make and receive calls and listen to music. The iPhone is differentiating itself as a tool that you can develop full applications for. The iPhone does have limitations. If you have used an iPhone then you already realize that you would not want to design a PowerPoint presentation on it, or write a lengthy document or any of the labor intensive activities you need a PC for. The sweet spot for the iPhone is in its ability for you to easily review information and make small, byte sized responses. In other words, it is the tool you need when you do not want to boot up your computer.
 
What this means is that the iPhone will not replace your laptop. It augments it. The challenge this provides is that you now must have your data in two places. This is where Cloud Computing helps. Storing your data in Cloud services allows you to review your day to day activities on your iPhone while you are on the go and when you have the time, boot up your PC or Mac to do the heavy lifting work.
 
Apple's support for ActiveSync in Microsoft Exchange is a great example of the strengths of both a mobile device and PC working hand in hand. Microsoft's Exchange allows you to manage email, calendars, and contacts. Traditionally, you would have to be at your desktop PC or have your laptop booted up to be able to use Outlook to check for your emails. With Exchange Server 2003 and 2007 Microsoft has a tool called ActiveSync that allows non-PC devices to connect to email, calendar and contact services. With ActiveSync enabled on the iPhone, you can use the rich email, calendar and contact tools built into the iPhone and have the data synchronized wirelessly with your PC Outlook through Exchange. This means you are kept up to date during the day with your email, where you are supposed to be and how to contact anyone.
 
Other mobile devices do support Exchanges' ActiveSync. What Apple does is provide powerful local software solutions in the iPhone that use the ActiveSync Cloud Service to deliver a useful solution. The "always on" architecture of the iPhone is rapidly promoting the benefit of Cloud Services.

Where Cloud Services go from here
The iPhone clearly shows how Cloud Services are important. You can argue that the iPhone is Cloud Services' killer app. However, the iPhone is only one device and there are many new powerful mobile devices being launched that will mimick functionality. This only increases the need for cloud services.