Many businesses are preparing for what experts all calling the “mobile takeover.†The New Year is going to bring more web browsing, purchasing, and researching on the small screen. Technology research and advisory firm Gartner estimates that global smartphone sales will reach 478 million by the end of 2011. Twitter usage also grew to more than 200 million tweets daily according to Search Engine Watch, and the number is expected to grow. In other words, consumers will be relying on their smartphones much more as the New Year approaches. This makes the quality of a smartphone extremely important. While there seems to be nothing a smartphone can’t do, there is one problem that still annoys users: battery life.
In July of this year, a Duke University student named Justin Manweiler claimed to have found the answer to extended smartphone battery life; however it is a discovery that has been fairly quiet since it was announced to the public. The software is known as SleepWell Software, and it has several benefits other than convenience:
- Save energy that is wasted when devices search for a WiFi signal (for both cell phones)
- Save energy that is wasted when the devices are connected to a WiFi network and are “searching†for the data requested
- Data moves faster when searching
- Battery life could last twice as long
Although this discovery wasn’t utilized by many in 2011, businesses and individuals alike should consider SleepWell Software for the New Year.
How the Software Works
The software allows a cell phone to go to “sleep†while another device is downloading information. The “sleep†mode is simply a power saving mode, and it is a way for cell phones to wait their turn for a connection. Instead of sitting there looking at your phone download, your phone will go into this sleep mode. Then, when it’s your turn, you’ll be directed to your site. The loading is just as fast, but your time will be spent waiting for your phone to stop being in sleep mode as opposed to watching a bar download across the screen.
Many phones already have a sleep mode, but these modes focus on longer “sleeping†periods such as a few hours or even a few days. SleepWell puts your phone to sleep in short spurts, some that last only a few seconds. According to Manwiler, “these sleep periods are so short, the user remains unaware and unaffected.â€
What This Means for Marketing Departments 
This software allows the battery life of a mobile phone to double. This means that people will be more apt to use their phones for all of their searching and surfing needs. Social sharing is also expected to increase. Therefore whether you’re starting a small business or looking to improve your business in 2012, it’s important to realize that search is changing and accomodate. There are a few things businesses can do to prepare for the “mobile takeover:â€
- Put the search bar and advertisements on the bottom so it does not take up the top half of a cell phone screen. Put important content on the top of the website.
- Utilize the built in functionalities of a phone by creating an easy call button or button to find your location.
- Consider creating timely text messages; much like email marketing.
- Put extra emphasis on social media; making sure all articles on your website have social sharing buttons.
SleepWell Software was very new in 2011, but the New Year will likely bring this discovery to life. Although no one knows for sure the future of this software, it’s hard to imagine that doubling battery life would go unnoticed.
Photo Credit: mugen-power-batteries.com, magnetfish.com
Amanda DiSilvestro is a writer on topics ranging from social media to document scanning. She writes for an online resource that gives advice on topics including document software to small businesses and entrepreneurs for the leading business directory, Business.com.
Originally posted on December 21, 2011 @ 12:21 pm
