As a result, even the most amazing content and application won't be profitable for a while. For instance, wireless portal vendors will tell you that their users number merely in the hundreds of thousands, a tiny fraction of the total number of Web browsers. That's hardly the stuff from which content empires are created. That will change, of course, so by all means jump in early and stake out your content and application territories. But make sure you and your investors are prepared for the fact that profitability won't occur soon.
Some products sound good but are downright goofy upon closer inspection.
For instance, France Telecom recently announced the start of trials for e-commerce via smart phones. You contact a vendor that supports this system by a voice call or via the Web. The vendor sends back a GSM short message, displayed on the phone's screen, with the price and other information. The customer inserts a smart card into a device that connects to the phone, enters a password and completes the transaction. True, this is a secure method of paying for items.