I battled several moments with these requests – not the least because they were being asked in the (usual) “please do this as soon as possible” tone. As I poured over how I would respond to the latest of these requests – I started wondering how it is that those who are forwarding efforts utilizing mobile devices and services could take steps to being servant-leaders of the technology. If you will, how could they take steps in their home usage to make strides to being equipped and knowledgable when in the field?
The first thought was that folks have to become more knowledgeable about mobile devices. Not just about the devices they can afford, not just about the ones their carriers sell, but about the ones that are prominent on the field to which they’d like to pursue mobile ministry opportunities. The easiest way to do this is to take sites such as GSM Arena and PDA Database and just getting associated with the manufacturers of various mobile devices. Look at the device that you own, the carrier and the manufacturer, and then compare that to similar models from the same carrier and manufacturer on those websites (these are two of the largest datasets for mobile devices online).
Second, at least in respect to the mindset of knowing what you are talking about when you refer to the device or service’s effectiveness on the field, is to purchase a similar mobile device to what would be on the field. For many of you reading, this means getting a second or third GSM mobile made by Nokia, RIM (BlackBerry), or any of the many Android licensees or purchasing at the very least an Apple iPod Touch in order to test non-cellular-based applications. These devices cannot be items left in your drawer either, you’ve got to use them regularly so that you know their positives and negatives. Load them with applications, burn through the battery with multimedia and Internet, and even share content with others. Get to know the device and any services you wish to run on it before making the decision to use that device and/or service in the field.
Side note: doing #2 with GSM mobiles is simple. You can purchase a prepaid SIM card from any grocery/convenience store or gas station, or use services like Truphone, MaxRoam,Simple Mobile, Net10, and others to get a taste of what its like to use the device in a manner that’s similar to that of non-contract markets/users (pre-paid; using multiple platforms, international services for testing roaming, etc.).
Third, you have to get over the affluence that is marketed all around you in mobile and chart a path that looks like those you want to serve. Remember when Jesus, after his final meal with the disciples , rendered himself as a servant and washed the disciples feet (John 13). Besides breaking protocol (he was technically the host of the meal), he also demonstrated that there are times in which you have to break with social norms in order to demonstrate the fullness of your message. This might mean that you have to get away from the family plans, bundled services, or even smartphones that you cary right now. If you want people to pass content from one mobile to another via Bluetooth or memory cards, then you have to make a practice out of doing it in your day-to-day mobile life. Do you want people to utilize a mobile learning curriculum, then you also need to be teaching and leading groups from it. For you to lead effectively, you’ve got to have some understanding of what your efforts will cost those whom you are serving.
The best demonstration of mobile ministry is the act of living through that grace in your own life. Take these steps in mind when looking to make mobile technology a focus in ministry efforts. Yes, this means that you’ll have to make decisions such as using lower-end mobiles, or getting by without the security of a contract and device insurance. But, if this is what your target audience is doing, aren’t you better able to serve them by speaking from their experience?
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What’s Ahead for 2011
Monday, January 3rd, 2011A Mobile Lens for 2011
Mobile will continue to push towards the front of technology, health, educational, and policy conversations in 2011. What will be most interesting is the overlap. As we talked about some last year, contextualization and cross-functional knowledge will play a bigger part in understanding the role of mobile and the impacts to digital faith behaviors. Those individuals and groups that pollinate their mobile perspectives with multiple arenas will remain ahead of trends and applications.
In hardware, we are still looking at more of the same from basic devices (slates, candybar, tablet, some clamshells). Storage and processor technology is again on the verge of stepping up a generation, but battery power isn’t. We should see a few more attempts with device and network intelligence on devices, but only at the highest model ranges. Look at what you see as high-end right now, it will be low/mid-range by the fall.
Price points for devices will come down to orughly $100USD for a smartphone sans contract (currently $130-150). This will continue the transformation of some (mobile savvy) developed markets towards being largely populated with new smartphones. That said, feature phones will continue to sell huge in most markets – and the 2nd owner market should also grow. Service prices will hold steady for a bit longer before we start seeing more tiers in data service offerings with larger carriers. Keep an eye on SIM cards, these might be changing – and not just in size.
Software will continue to go the route of paying attention to user experience and smoother user interface design, though we will get some attention paid to optimization and information security. I wish I could say that users will care about security, but situations such as WikiLeaks shows us that this will remain governmental and enterprise conversations.
Looks like we are on the verge of some jumps in the amount and attention paid to audio and multi-lingual approaches. However, the easiest paths for developing these solutions will continue to be with web-dependent data and transaction services.
Open source will continue as an area of opportunity and frequent barrier in software and business development. Religious content is one of the heaviest areas where DRM and antiquated processes remain, and so the change here to more fluid models is still some time off. We will see more attempts like the Kiosk Evangelism Project and The Evangelical Exegetical Commentary that will push some open source behaviors forward – the catch being with regional and legal issues which don’t change so quickly.
Mobile applications will continue to dominate the conversation in smartphone-heavy markets. Mobile web will pick up steam after Q1 and newer devices will further blurr the line between web and native applications. Would be nice to see a bible software company lead in this area – Logos’s Biblia was a great stepping stone to this.
We will see people more empowered with mobile to create their own solutions through more app-wizard-like programs and processes. I’m not sure if it will come from the faith-based space or outside, but I can see a few groups doing more with mashup-technologies that empower individuals to create solutions, instead of waiting for a larger network to be the solution.
MMM in 2011
If you will, all of this is simply building on the core so that the depth of content hits on as many applications of mobile and digital faith explorations as possible.
2011 aims to be filled with a lot more sending and receiving of Christ in mobile and we invite you to be a part of the signal. Connect with MMM and let’s continue to enable the Body to see the intersection of faith and mobile technology.
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Tags: Biblia, developed markets, developing markets, DRM, international, mobile applications, mobile ministry certification, mobile web, mobility, open source, price, SIM, smartphone, tech, Wikileaks
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