‘Fixed wireless’ expected to grow in 2018
Q: Wireless technology has become more ingrained in our daily activities and that trend will continue into 2018. What were the wireless technology highlights of 2017 and just how much do we use wireless technology?
A: In a recent U.S. Cellular survey, 28 percent of smartphone owners said they check their phone every few minutes, and 41 percent said they would rather give up water than their smartphone. But wireless technology encompasses so much more than smartphones.
In 2017, use of the “internet of things” became more common for consumers and businesses, and millions of connected devices such as
Nest thermostats and vehicle trackers have opened a world of possibilities that can help businesses revolutionize their customers’ experience and consumers enhance and simplify their lives.
Q: What is fixed wireless and how is it used?
A: Fixed wireless is usually done by installing an antenna on one’s house that connects to the nearest cell tower to ensure the most reliable connection. Then computers, tablets, smartphones, smart televisions, gaming devices, Google Home, Nest and other connected home devices are all on the same network via an in-home router. Fixed wireless will be a growth area for wireless carriers and technology companies in 2018 and beyond to provide internet access to residents in rural areas where internet options may be limited.
Q: How is wireless technology used to build better customer experiences?
A: Instead of standardizing how companies serve customers, data can be used to help personalize the experience, and wireless technology is the pipeline that can make it happen. For example, wireless technology and data can help guide content, offers and interactions and make recommendations that provide each individual a unique customer journey. In 2017, research showed that consumers started expecting a highly personalized customer experience, and in 2018, more and more companies will use data to meet that expectation. Pandora was an early adopter of this trend, as it uses each person’s individual music tastes to create a playlist. Similarly, Netflix and Amazon make recommendations based on past behavior. Beyond that, cosmetic and clothing retailers let you upload a photo of yourself to help them find the best products for your needs, and Google Maps can give you directions based on a plane ticket or vacation you booked.
Q: What’s the next step for voice technology?
A: While it may seem like we have gone away from talking and toward text messaging and emailing as our favorite means of communication, the latest trend in wireless technology relies on one thing — our voice. Many of the latest innovations in tech require us to tell computers what to do, and those computers are speaking right back to us. Whether it’s Siri on an iPhone or Google on an Android phone, voice-activated technology on smartphones will truly become our personal assistants. Furthermore, it goes beyond that to Google Home and Amazon Echo devices in our homes, as well as IBM Watson and other artificial intelligence solutions for businesses. Our voices are helping computers learn, so in turn they can simplify and enhance our daily activities. In 2018, more of our voices will be used to direct self-driving cars or farm equipment, and more websites will allow us to speak with chat-bots to help us get what we need, further developing a personalized customer experience.