What emerging mobile technologies should you know for your next interview?

Consider whether the Mobile Industry is likely to continue marketing 'once-a-decade G's' or whether they will in future focus more on customer segments and focus upon strategies aimed at particular groups. For example 5G claimed that it was going to solve issues for Consumers (the initial NSA eMBB) and enterprise (mMTC and URLLC) to tackle business customers' needs in both public and private networks (typically SA). This means taking a keener interest in the underlying 3GPP Releases 16, 17, 18 and 19 rather than any marketing label such as 5G-Advanced or 6G, then perhaps link back to those labels in case any broader management is in the room. Focus upon the value to the user, combining technologies into solutions, rather than details.

Most networks are running 5G over a 4G core, eventually they will migrate to 5G-SA (standalone) which means a 5G core network too. 5G offers high speeds and low latency which won’t really affect consumers but will be crucial for smart cities and vehicular comms.

Know your RANs, Radio Access Networks. There is a lot of confusion in the industry about vRAN, oRAN, ORAN, Open RAN, Cloud RAN etc but remember the end user doesn't care about what the RAN technology is, only whether it delivers upon their needs and demands.

5G is already a reality in many places. If you really want to stay ahead of the game, get ready for 6G. Also, 5G is not the only game in town, mobile users connect with Wi-Fi a large part of the time.

20 years in mobile technology, my experience spans every “G” to date. 5G reflects ever increasing data speeds, and faster “latency” response time, enabling the ever-changing ways we communicate from voice, text, data and video. That’s essential to 5G. Note 5G is still being rolled out and getting broader traction, it is reshaping the telecomms industry and enhancing consumer experience. As always, mobile telecom companies continue to look “over the horizon,” with 6G likely to be 100 times faster than 5G! Analysts feel it will ignite the Metaverse, creating real time, personalized 3G Worlds. Layer on iOT devices and the world will have even more devices to collect and transmit data. Your grasp of 5G AND 6G will set you apart as a candidate.

Don’t forget, we’ve seen this before. Check out the OG Star Trek "Communicator" and the Motorola “Flip Phone” of the late ‘90s. Foldable screens are nostalgic. Consider them an enhanced experience, not a new one. They showcase mobile technology’s core convenience, multi-task-ability and (flexible) portability. They embody the potential new sales of handsets, tablet phones and opens new doors around wearable devices. Your awareness and discussing it in an interview will show you’re attuned to the ever evolving needs of consumers and the industry around mobile technology.

While AI significantly enhances mobile technology, there is a notable gap in incorporating the “human-centered AI, (HCAI)” particularly in emotional intelligence, ethical reasoning, creativity, contextual awareness, and adaptability in unpredictable scenarios. Another key aspect where AI falls short is in understanding and managing human cognitive load. AI currently lacks the capability to fully appreciate and adapt to the varying cognitive demands placed on users, which is crucial for creating user-friendly and accessible technology. This gap highlights the need for a balanced approach that combines AI’s analytical strengths with a deep understanding of human cognition, emotions, and behaviors.

AI will probably be pervasive in the near future, so that anyone should become familiar with its potentials and limitations. A profusion of open-source models and APIs will make AI easier to implement in any application.

AI is not just about Siri or chatbots. From my experience in developing voice activated mobile technology, it’s about the adjacent opportunities where AI is driving predictive analytics, personalization, and automation. It may very well be a game changer. AI will clearly revolutionize user experience to back-end processes, especially in finance, healthcare and e-commerce, areas with growing impact by marrying mobile technology and AI. This way you’ll demonstrate an ability to analyze and propose more innovation driven by AI enabled mobile technology.

"Federated Learning" is a system which solves the well known secutrity issues of using Artificial Intelligence in mobile technology whilst continuing to benefit from a central AI that can learn from the data of all the sites and users it serves. Instead of moving all data into the cloud, AI processes are carried out on-site "at the edge", and only the learnings and lessons from these AI interactions are shared to the central, offsite system, no the data that gave rise to them. An example could be that computer vision of appropriate worksite PPE equipment identifies that automated gates should only open to workers with safety helmets on, and shares what these helmets look like, but doesn't share footage of the workers wearing them.

"Identity Authentication" transcends how an "Identity Verification" occurs. The core element to display an understanding of verification is at core is the establishment of mutual trust and confidence in messages delivered and received by customers from mobile operators, as well as the trust of operators in their customers. This is especially important in financial transactions. Identity verification is essential, in fraud prevention it is the first line of defense. Verification ensures compliance with regulations, and enables secure transactions. Biometic authentication is one supporting technology which "Identify Verification" is key to managing access and permissions in a complex ecosystem, whether through Biometric, SMS, IVR, or 2FA.

For access to secure areas (such as work sites that require specific safety training or clearance levels) QR code badges were previously used, but either through consensual sharing between work colleagues or through theft, these badges were frequently being used by people other than their intended owners. Ultimately Denso (who invented the QR code) added biometrics such as facial recognition and retinal scanning to the process in a system called "Smart QR" - this has, so far, proved to solve the above issues completely.

PWAs are a trending star in the mobile technology world. These web applications offer the best of both worlds: the accessibility of a website and the functionality of a native app. PWA’s can provide seamless consumer experience across multiple comms platforms and devices, whether installed as a browser, home screen, work offline, or direct hardware access. Highlight how PWAs will likely change the way users interact with brands. Discuss their offline capabilities, speed, and seamless user experience. Identify enterprises that have successfully adopted PWAs to enhance their mobile presence. Demonstrating your knowledge of PWAs signals that you're in tune with the shift towards web-based solutions and user-centric design in the mobile space.

Go beyond the norm and understand the Next Big Things >Path to 6G: 5G is slowly rolling out globally, we are already looking at 6G to offer even faster data speeds, lower latency and connectivity density enabling augmented reality, AI and mobile IoT. >Open RAN (Radio Access Network): Revolutionizes how mobile networks are built. ORAN decouples hardware from software allowing the use of equipment from different vendors to integrate and elevate performance, promoting flexibility, cost savings, and cycles. ORAN will influence decisions on network architecture, vendor selection, and alignment of new technologies. >Edge Networks: Brings faster computing data processing closer to real time apps such as smart cities and autonomous vehicles.