You would get up in the morning, yawn, wear your glasses, walk towards your living room, pick up your tablet [unless anyone in your family would have got up first and picked it up before, else pick your smartphone then], click on the Times of India app and then walk towards the bathroom to sit on the hot seat to read the days news.
This is just my perception and it is indeed very subjective and subject to immense debate, but I think it will happen. The way newspapers reach our homes is set to change and the moves towards this end have already been initiated. Technology first gave us Google and online news portals but now, technology is going to totally revolutionize the ways news is read in this virtual era. As per my guesstimate, by 2020 we are sure to see this trend atleast seep into urban areas.
Enclosed below are the reasons why I feel this is bound to happen:
1. There are more people using mobile phones than those using a PC today
2. In fact, there are more Mobile Phones than Toilets in India according to United Nations
3. The number of people using mobile internet is soon exceeding the number of people using fixed line internet
4. Tablet sales are going to increase and their cost is also going to decrease. There were 17.6 million tablets sold in 2011 and the average price of tablets will continue to decline as per analyst firm Gartner.
5. Trailing Times of India, almost all other publications will launch their apps across platforms and app stores
6. The share of smartphones in India is still very nascent but it’s definitely going to pick up in the years to come
7. Network service providers could launch services to allow people [specifically for the non-smartphone audience] to hear news from the publications of their choice via voice. Just like the way Aircel users can now update their Facebook status via voice.
8. With players like Spectranet, Aruba Networks and Ruckus Wireless talking about the concept of Wi-Fi cities, by 2020 we’re sure to atleast have Wi-Fi metros. If not even that, am sure real estate builders are going to promote their townships with the ‘first Wi-Fi society/ colony’ factor!
I completely agree. I already follow the process that you have listed in the beginning of the paragraph. Reading TOI on an ipad has a much richer exerience, with the combo of videos, photos and text. Also no ads Atleast for now :)
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