<p>Mobility and IoT have a symbiotic relationship. Today it is evident that mobile technologies are a key driver for IoT, and in some ways IoT is, in turn, leading to further advancements in the mobility space.<br><br>IoT has taken mobility beyond smartphones and tablets. The emerging "mobile" landscape has literally billions of internet-enabled devices connected over mobile (cellular) networks, Wi-Fi and other network protocols.<br><br><strong>What is the role of mobile in IoT?</strong><br>At a basic level, mobile devices and networks are enabling the expansion of IoT by providing a platform that is not only readily available and accessible, but also pervasive and familiar.<br><br>The role of mobile role in IoT manifests itself in many more ways, all of which are essentially based on a synergistic interplay between the consumer owned "mobile devices" (smartphone and tablets, and increasingly cars) and IoT devices and systems at various consumer touch points. One can think of this under the broad theme of the convergence of mobile, IoT, cloud, social and analytics. Mobility and mobile devices will be the key connecting platform that will enable this convergence, contextual computing, and then take the resultant benefits to the consumers.<br><br><strong>What are the specific roles that mobile devices play in the IoT world?</strong><br>" Gathering and distributing data: Through passive metring or monitoring, the smartphone can act as a key data generator and channel for IoT systems. With location tagging, the power of such data becomes even more.<br>" Receiving and using information: Mobile devices are of course the most suitable platform for pushing relevant information from IoT systems to users.<br>" As a controller: Mobile devices can be turned into controllers of specific IoT systems, and this is already seeing many use cases across sectors.<br><br>Mobile app developers will also play a key role in the IoT world. Having already worked on developing applications that utilize mobile devices, cellular and Wi-Fi networks, they are well placed to leverage the opportunities offered by IoT and the interplay between IoT and mobile ecosystems.<br><br><strong>What are use cases in IoT?</strong><br>Retail & "Omni-channel" experience: Some retailers are already using targeted, customized promotions based on customers' previous shopping experience, internet browsing history and social media when they visit or is in the proximity of a retail store. Beacon is already a buzzword in the world of retail. Perhaps this is the one use case that is in the cusp of potential explosive growth.<br><br>Healthcare: There are already use cases in the healthcare space of mobility enabling innovative applications of IoT technologies. With specific apps, smartphones are turned to healthcare monitoring systems that are tied to other IoT-enabled monitoring systems. At hospitals there are increased uses of mobility-enabled IoT applications for day-to-day operations as well as critical monitoring systems.<br><br>Field Service Management (FSM): Smartphones and tablets coupled with IoT-enabled tagging, monitoring and testing systems are fundamentally altering the world of FSM across sectors. IoT systems and mobile devices are enabling the shift towards predictive maintenance.<br><br>There are many more use cases, and some of these are fairly simple but with significant utilitarian value. Some examples: (a) Beacon technology plus smartphone can be used to manage conference rooms in offices informing users where free rooms are available. (b) IoT enabled locks that can be operated by mobile phones. Bitlock has an interesting product for bikes.<br><br><em>The author, Ajith Sankaran, is Senior Vice President - Market Intelligence at Blueocean Market Intelligence</em></p>
