As the decade draws to a close, it’s amazing to think back over the many technology changes of the last 10 years.  In the year 2000, e-mail was important as well as Internet access, but dial-up connections still were prevalent and we weren’t chained to our e-mail accounts as we are today. Some people had cell phones, but they were old school – no keyboards, no ability to surf the Web, no texting. At that point, we had never heard of an iPhone, an app or a tweet. We didn’t spend our evenings on Facebook or the workday on switching from BlackBerry to laptop to video conference.

In just a few short years, technology has changed drastically, infiltrating our professional and personal lives. We can hardly fathom what the next decade will bring.

Some tech predictions:

• Mobile, mobile, mobile. Our reliance on smart phones will only continue to grow right along with consumers’ demands. We expect fast, functional and fun. We want a good network, plenty of extra bells and whistles along with true functionality for business use.
• Cloud computing. If you haven’t heard about cloud computing, you’ve had your head, well, in the clouds. In a nutshell, it’s working in the Internet “cloud,” using Web-based programs and software as opposed to putting a lot of programs on your own servers. A simple example is Google documents, which allows you to create, save and access files via the Web – so it doesn’t matter if you’re on your laptop, desktop computer or phone, all you need is an Internet connection.
• Green technology. More companies are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint and become more environmentally responsible. This includes technology decisions that don’t eat up a great deal of energy. From the Spirit Telecom perspective, we also believe more people will turn to options like Web and video conferencing as a way to be green. This technology allows for in-person communication without driving or flying.
• Social media. Don’t expect to see the millions of people using Facebook and Twitter to suddenly drop their social media habits. This concept will only continue to grow, both for entertainment and for business use as a way to promote a brand or engage consumers.

Those are some things we see coming. What are you tech predictions? What will be new or will grow in 2010?