That could be the title for a new book, but it’s probably going to figure in the sub-title of the second edition of my current book Next Generation Wireless Applications, which I have nearly finished.

Am I jumping on the “2.0″ moniker bandwagon? Probably, but I hope you won’t be disappointed. I believe that the book will be worth buying for one of the new chapters alone, which looks at where we are today with mobile data applications. I have spent the last 11 years creating, selling, presenting, discussing and thinking about mobile applications. I have worked with many operators internationally in the developing and developed world. I have worked and met with hundreds of apps vendors and with the latest and greatest technologies, like IMS and DVB-H. There is no doubt that no one in this business knows what they’re doing, especially in the operator world. Many of us have been fooled by myths of our own making. I haven’t met a single person in a senior position in an operator or media company (going mobile) with a clear strategy and path to profit for new mobile services. The mobile data revolution hasn’t happened or fulfilled the dreams of many of its advocates.

However, I must have gained some insights, right? Of course. I don’t believe that the future of mobile is about flicking a coin. There are ideas, trends and technologies that can inform the decision making process. It is these that I write about in one of the new chapters, including a critical examination of Web 2.0 and where it fits in the picture. I believe that this is the first critical examination of the topic, keeping in mind that I am not a strong advocate for this or any other particular technology or paradigm. If it works, let’s use it, but let’s also cut through the hype. I try to do this in the chapter. At the same time, as this is also a book about the technology, I also cover some of the technical aspects of Web 2.0 and what some people, including myself, have been calling Mobile 2.0, namely IMS. I cover IMS uniquely from an applications perspective, which you don’t find in the leading books on the topic.

I shall post a more complete description of the book updates soon. For those of you who have read the previous book and liked it, you will find this a worthwhile update with significant new content, both in quantity and substance. For those new to my book, I still believe it to be the most comprehensive book on the market that covers the entire field of mobile applications. I have added content this time to extend the appeal to an audience in the media industry, where there is significant interest in how to mobilize content and services.