What we're seeing in Hong Kong's mobile space today is much like the early years of the Internet. At first, the Net here was a concept people had heard of, but didn't really understand, let alone use. These were days when you'd have to call people, they'd be out, and their minder would painstakingly take down your name (remember "how to spell?" and spelling your name out letter by letter, to be corrected/repeated? For some of us doing business here in Hong Kong, this was a daily ordeal). Then they'd call you back, and you'd be out. Once people figured out e-mail, communication became much more efficient. Then Web sites began to gain traction for real business. There was a process of evolution.

With enterprise mobility, we have a new learning curve. The advantage is that businesspeople now understand how important the Internet is: how a single multilingual Web site can answer hundreds of questions a minute, how access can be protected through passwords and hard-tokens for two-factor authentication. Rent, utility-bills and even income taxes can be paid online nowadays in Hong Kong. "How to spell?" has been consigned to the dust heap of history (don't forget to recycle your fax machine when you get around to it).

But Hong Kong has an advantage. We have a young, agile workforce who are unafraid to start an SMB with a good idea and a little seed-money. And increasingly, Hong Kongers will contribute to efficient enterprise mobility and mobile app development, both in greater China and overseas.