Convergence Or Collision?

By Leslie Belcher, Jesta I.S. Inc.

The world of retail is about to get significantly smaller in a very short period of time. Platforms that were once islands unto themselves are being connected in ways that were not even a twinkle in technologists' eyes two years ago. And, for retailers, simply knowing how to swim from island to island is no longer enough.

It is no secret that mobile computing is taking off. Sales of smartphones surpassed computers this year, and the trend is accelerating. Applications built for mobile users are finding acceptance in a number of industries, and coupled with some emerging technology, they are going to find even broader acceptance.