Mobile World Congress (MWC) is the largest gathering of all things mobile. And it's held in Barcelona, Spain.
MWC brings together exhibitors, speakers of all kinds, brands, advertisers, technology providers, and device manufacturers from all around the world. This year the event saw just over 100,000 attendees and more than 2,200 exhibitors in its four-day span. As in years past, MWC occupied eight massive halls at the Fira Gran in Barcelona, Spain. There was also a ninth hall (M8) called 4YFN (Four Years From Now), a startup business platform of Mobile World Capital Barcelona. Getting from the Fira Gran of MWC to M8 wasn't so easy, though; it required a 15-minute bus or taxi ride.
Having never experienced MWC before, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. After all, this is the World's Largest Mobile Event. Day one was a real shocker: lots of people, lots of walking, and a little confusion, all at once. By day two it became more apparent (to me) that MWC is less about mobile, per se, and more about overall connectedness.
My main takeaways from MWC can be summed up in five areas: IoT, VR, 5G, Security and Start-ups.
1. Connectedness (IoT)
Duh, living in a connected world seems obvious, I know, but there’s more to it. The IoT isn’t just about connecting your mobile device to a drone to take killer photos from 200 feet in the air, or being able to turn your home security system on and off from your desk at work. It's about being connected to everything, always. At times, MWC felt like an auto show, with Mercedes and Land Rover showcasing their ability to connect your car to the world; be it an in-car assistant or an in-car fuel payment system (which lets drivers use a touchscreen to pay for gas).
2. Ready Player One
You couldn’t walk 10 feet without bumping into an exhibitor talking about VR, showcasing what they’re doing, or experiencing if for yourself. Big companies like Samsung went all out with 5 VR simulator experiences. HTC launched Vive (their VR headset), and many smaller brands had some form of VR. The future of VR seems exceptionally strong with Facebook investing heavily in VR and backing Samsung Gear VR; declaring VR the future of sharing.
3. 5G is next level
The 5th generation of wireless technology was everywhere, but was it really...? The technology doesn't seem to be there yet with many hurdles still present. The industry hasn’t’ agreed on what 5G will actually be like and the means to power the new network are still lacking. One thing for sure is that 5G will take tech trends like VR, AR, and self-driving cars to the next level.
4. Sehcohrity!
With more and more people connecting to the Internet via mobile, security needs have become much clearer and more necessary. Every part of your network needs to be secure from hacking. Take, for example, smart baby monitors with features like a camera, microphone, and speaker; manufacturers didn’t consider the security measures needed to protect consumers from hackers. As a result, these monitors have seen increased hacking in the last couple of years. Without adequate security protections implemented, hackers can use the camera and microphone to spy on babies and parents. #Creepy
5. Tech from startups
In the 4YFN hall, the little guys showed up with a ton of innovation and creative thinking. With over 600 exhibitors, there was plenty to see. One company that stood out was Circulus, a South Korean company focused on robotic technology. They brought piBo (Personal Intelligence Robot) with them; a companion robot intended to be your friend, assistant, and security guard. #JustALittleCreepy