What is a killer Mobile App?

For so many years now, mobile ecosystem is waiting for the next killer application after SMS but the answer is still elusive.

Why has not the next killer application born? What makes it so difficult for any application to be a killer app? What are the characteristics of a killer app?

To my mind, killer app is something which:-

1) Network effect: killer app essentially has the For so many years now, mobile ecosystem is waiting for the next killer application after SMS but the answer is still elusive.

Why has not the next killer application born? What makes it so difficult for any application to be a killer app? What are the characteristics of a killer app?

To my mind, killer app is something which:-

1) Network effect: killer app essentially has the chatecteristic of creating network effect. One person X is using MS Excel it forces other person to also use MS Excel to read his content. My means of network effect killer app gets pollinated to mass users and becomes a defacto

2) Personalization: A killer app is a framework which people can personalize based on thier need/likes. It lets user create content, exchange content, store personal information

3) Usability: A killer app has very intuitive UI and may be simple or elegant. Think IPOD.

SMS worked because it had all the three characteristics.

M-payments applications failed because of lack of usability. For last few days I had been juggling with password applications to get them installed on my Nokia 9300i and to my dismay I found that none of the 9 applications loaded on phone work. And I realized that we are no where near our mobile replacing our laptop. Application porting over phone is not easy. It takes a hell out of you trying to test the application on all phone types.

So what can be likely killer app?

Music: Probably not. Music along has no value. Ipod is a killer app because of network effect and personalization.

M-communities: Ok…. Do they have IP. Communities are replicated quickly creating too many of them. Let’s check out which one of them will be able to get traction. Usability would be key. I like the Zaiku.com model of microfeed.

M-cash: I bet on it. This is not the typical paymate model where you pay the bank. It is about digital notes. Imagine on bank request bank pushes signed 100 Rs/10 Rs notes on your mobile phone. You pay to the ciggarate shop 12 Rs, where 10 Rs are transferred as m-cash and 2 Rs as physical.

It is mobile to mobile transfer via bluetooth - no bank commission. The user interface is really simple like SMS.

So the mobile becomes your wallet.