Governing recently gave a sneak preview of Government IT applications that suspect may not be around next year…

1. Legacy applications: The days when you loaded a piece of software on a computer are disappearing. Experts predict the virtual trend, where software is a service you pay for via subscriptions, will become the norm.

2. Mobile Applications: As mobile phones get smarter, customized information on the home screen will eclipse the need for a local weather app or an app from your local news station. You’ll access the same information, without needing to manage any apps.

3. Traditional Desktops: There’s little dissent among experts predicting the demise of the time-honored desktop. Virtual desktops pulling information from the cloud benefit from a more consistent user experience across devices.

4. BlackBerry Smartphones: CIO.com cites operating system upgrade delays, high-level staff turnover and a weak showing from the company’s venture into tablet computing as minor compared to the platform’s inability to span consumer’s personal and professional identities. In summary, “… having a dedicated business phone that won’t play Angry Birds doesn’t make sense anymore.”

5. Windows Phones: This list declares Android and iPhone the winners in the consumer smartphone market. While acknowledging the Windows phone’s successful integration with Windows 8 and Surface tablets, the most generous analysts only give Microsoft’s smartphone 13 percent market share by 2017.

6. Private Branch Exchange (PBX) Systems: Another traditional office technology waning in popularity is the desk phone system linked to a corporate data center, Brandon claims. High operating and maintenance costs, coupled with employees’ preference for their own phones, are contributing to this trend.

7. Fax Machines: When’s the last time you used a fax machine? The widespread adoption of digital signature technologies represent the nail in the coffin on these soon-to-be collector’s items.

What will be around? The cloud. In fact, Minnesota get a nod for moving that direction already…

In March, Minnesota finished moving almost 40,000 workers in more than 70 state agencies to Microsoft’s cloud-based software program for email services and collaboration tools.

In December, I attended a CIO Panel sponsored by the MHTA. They too predicted a move to the cloud. The also predicted greater use of mobile apps – although perhaps the key is in mobile app management.