How long until mobile takes over?

[Casey Cora]

I don't think anyone around here will argue that products like the iPhone are just the beginning of an epic shift in communications.

How are newspapers stacking up? Personally, I think smart phones are going to be the coffin nails for newspapers. Unless we adapt.

And I'm not so sure that adaptation is going to happen soon. I hope I'm wrong, but innovation hasn't exactly been our strong suit.

I'm afraid if local news organizations don't start creating and applying news for mobile platforms, they're going to continue this downward spiral of (perceived) irrelevance.

So, how long until the majority of Americans ditch the fishwrap altogether and go mobile? One year? Two years? Ten?

In terms of tech, what needs to happen to catch up?

[Brad King]

I've been kicking this idea around in my head (particularly since I access news on my phone as much as I do anywhere else these day), and I can't make myself believe that mobile -- in its current form -- is going to be that big of a deal.

Of course understand that I didn't think streaming video and audio would ever be as popular as search and browsing -- and I think I can imagine a day where I'm either completely wrong, or wrong enough that being right isn't really anything to be proud of.

I think the folks at Citizen Logistics and other ARGs offer the best look at how mobile can be used to -- uh -- mobile citizens to create content in times of crisis and what not.

Twitter and such are great for stories and updates -- I'm not sure if it's a tool just yet.

That was a whole lot of "I don't think I know".