MOUNTAIN VIEW, USA: DiVitas Networks, a leader in Mobile Unified Communications (Mobile UC), and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., a leading mobile phone provider, announced today that they, with support from Microsoft, have successfully worked to enable Enterprise-class fixed mobile convergence and unified communication on Samsung phones based on the Microsoft Windows Mobile platform.
With the July 27 release of Samsung Mobile Innovator’s Software Developer Kit (SDK) version 1.2.0, Samsung and DiVitas have collaborated to enhance the mobile unified communications experience on the Samsung phones with Windows Mobile.
Samsung is a leader among Windows Mobile device manufacturers in bringing solutions to market to address customer needs for fixed mobile convergence and unified communications. Together, DiVitas and Samsung defined the requirements for the API that Samsung developed for current beta testing.
The API will enable the DiVitas Mobile UC solution on the latest Samsung Windows Mobile smartphones available globally for both GSM and CDMA networks. These devices include the Samsung Epix, Samsung Saga, Samsung Jack and the Samsung Omnia (CDMA) in the US and the Samsung Omnia (GSM) globally.
"We asked DiVitas to join as a core member of the Samsung Mobile Innovator program because of their expertise in the field of Mobile Unified Communications," said Martin Tannerfors, Director for Samsung Mobile Innovator. "Collaborating with core members like DiVitas to meet the precise needs of our ecosystem is a key component of the Samsung Mobile Innovator Program."
“We are committed to working with our partners to create richer experiences for Windows Mobile customers,” said Stephanie Ferguson, general manager of product management, Microsoft. “The Samsung Mobile Innovator’s Software Developer Kit is a great example of how partners can innovate and add value to customers when working with a powerful, enterprise-ready platform like Windows Mobile.”
“DiVitas is very excited to be working with Samsung and Microsoft on this project,” said ATG Srinivas, VP of engineering for DiVitas Networks. “We have the knowledge and time tested deployment experience to assist Samsung in the requirements definition. This is a significant step towards enabling commercial Mobile UC products on Samsung Windows Mobile devices for both GSM and CDMA networks.”
Showing posts with label Microsoft. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Microsoft. Show all posts
Monday, August 17, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Apple/Google spat represents opening shot in high-stakes wireless data battle
EL SEGUNDO, USA: Apple Inc.’s recent move to reject Google Inc.’s Google Voice software from its App Store represents an initial skirmish in the escalating battle among wireless operators, cell phone makers, and content developers and aggregators over who will control revenue generated by applications and data services, according to iSuppli Corp.
Google Voice is a free Voice-Over-Internet-Protocol (VOIP) application that provides no-cost phone calls in the United States along with a range of services, including call screening, voice mail with transcriptions and Short Messaging Service (SMS).
With Apple not giving a reason for rejecting Google Voice, speculation has been rife that the company’s wireless operator for the iPhone—AT&T—demanded the application’s denial, fearing it could erode its service revenue from iPhone subscribers.
Apple’s move, and the news following afterward that Eric Schmidt—chief executive officer of Google—would resign from Apple’s board, reflect changing circumstances in the global wireless industry due the rise of data applications and services for the new generation of smart phones.
“The explosive growth in wireless data service revenues, mobile applications and smart-phone device unit shipments during the past two years is spurring a dramatic shift for the global cell phone industry,” said Dr. Jagdish Rebello, director and principal analyst with iSuppli.
“Companies including Apple, Google, Nokia, RIM and Microsoft are trying to muscle in on the wireless carriers for a share of the lucrative and growing mobile premium content, service and application pies. Regardless of who wins, this battle will alter the balance of power in the mobile value chain.”
Global revenue for wireless data services, excluding messaging, is projected to grow by 26.2 percent to reach $87.7 billion in 2009. This follows 57.1 percent growth in 2007 and a 60.3 percent expansion in 2008 for total data revenue among the world’s wireless carriers.
iSuppli is forecasting that total data revenues of carriers worldwide, excluding messaging, will grow to approximately $188 billion by 2013. In contrast, total revenues for all services offered by the world’s wireless carriers will remain roughly flat at approximately $866 billion in 2009.
Mobile applications, such as those on Apple’s App Store, are key to stimulating the data service revenue growth.
“Clearly, mobile data revenue is key to the continued health of wireless carriers and the cell phone value chain in the future,” Rebello said. “In this battle, ownership of customers and who can monetize data services and applications are up for grabs.”
Apple’s rejection of Google Voice is a dramatic illustration of this fight for data revenues.
“By introducing applications and services that allow customers to make calls and send text messages without paying the operators, wireless operators have no incentive to invest in network upgrades,” Rebello said.
“This is the reason why many carriers are pushing out the upgrades of their networks to 2010/2011, compared to 2009/2010 before. With billions of dollars in expected investments, the stakes are huge for the wireless carriers.”
The figure presents iSuppli’s forecast of global wireless data revenue excluding messaging revenue.
iSuppli: Global Wireless Operator Non-Messaging Data Revenue by Country (Millions of US Dollars)
Source: iSuppli, Aug. 2009
Wireless carrier success strategies
To sustain the growth momentum in data revenues while maintaining their relations with other players in the value chain, wireless carriers must develop and implement carefully thought-out business models. Operators need to develop strategies that are built around four central tenets:
* Monetizing broadband access.
* Co-operating with the mobile value chain to develop and offer compelling applications and content.
* Offering revenue-generating services that take advantage of mobility.
* Leveraging mature billing capabilities and inherent customer trust to develop new applications that can take the industry to the next level.
Specifically, it’s critical for wireless service providers to implement new strategies and to develop business models optimized for each of the different revenue opportunities in mobile broadband access, content and applications marketing and value-added service offerings
“Failure to do so will result in contraction in data and total revenues, excessive subscriber churn and a slowdown in market development,” Rebello warned.
Google Voice is a free Voice-Over-Internet-Protocol (VOIP) application that provides no-cost phone calls in the United States along with a range of services, including call screening, voice mail with transcriptions and Short Messaging Service (SMS).
With Apple not giving a reason for rejecting Google Voice, speculation has been rife that the company’s wireless operator for the iPhone—AT&T—demanded the application’s denial, fearing it could erode its service revenue from iPhone subscribers.
Apple’s move, and the news following afterward that Eric Schmidt—chief executive officer of Google—would resign from Apple’s board, reflect changing circumstances in the global wireless industry due the rise of data applications and services for the new generation of smart phones.
“The explosive growth in wireless data service revenues, mobile applications and smart-phone device unit shipments during the past two years is spurring a dramatic shift for the global cell phone industry,” said Dr. Jagdish Rebello, director and principal analyst with iSuppli.
“Companies including Apple, Google, Nokia, RIM and Microsoft are trying to muscle in on the wireless carriers for a share of the lucrative and growing mobile premium content, service and application pies. Regardless of who wins, this battle will alter the balance of power in the mobile value chain.”
Global revenue for wireless data services, excluding messaging, is projected to grow by 26.2 percent to reach $87.7 billion in 2009. This follows 57.1 percent growth in 2007 and a 60.3 percent expansion in 2008 for total data revenue among the world’s wireless carriers.
iSuppli is forecasting that total data revenues of carriers worldwide, excluding messaging, will grow to approximately $188 billion by 2013. In contrast, total revenues for all services offered by the world’s wireless carriers will remain roughly flat at approximately $866 billion in 2009.
Mobile applications, such as those on Apple’s App Store, are key to stimulating the data service revenue growth.
“Clearly, mobile data revenue is key to the continued health of wireless carriers and the cell phone value chain in the future,” Rebello said. “In this battle, ownership of customers and who can monetize data services and applications are up for grabs.”
Apple’s rejection of Google Voice is a dramatic illustration of this fight for data revenues.
“By introducing applications and services that allow customers to make calls and send text messages without paying the operators, wireless operators have no incentive to invest in network upgrades,” Rebello said.
“This is the reason why many carriers are pushing out the upgrades of their networks to 2010/2011, compared to 2009/2010 before. With billions of dollars in expected investments, the stakes are huge for the wireless carriers.”
The figure presents iSuppli’s forecast of global wireless data revenue excluding messaging revenue.
iSuppli: Global Wireless Operator Non-Messaging Data Revenue by Country (Millions of US Dollars)
Source: iSuppli, Aug. 2009Wireless carrier success strategies
To sustain the growth momentum in data revenues while maintaining their relations with other players in the value chain, wireless carriers must develop and implement carefully thought-out business models. Operators need to develop strategies that are built around four central tenets:
* Monetizing broadband access.
* Co-operating with the mobile value chain to develop and offer compelling applications and content.
* Offering revenue-generating services that take advantage of mobility.
* Leveraging mature billing capabilities and inherent customer trust to develop new applications that can take the industry to the next level.
Specifically, it’s critical for wireless service providers to implement new strategies and to develop business models optimized for each of the different revenue opportunities in mobile broadband access, content and applications marketing and value-added service offerings
“Failure to do so will result in contraction in data and total revenues, excessive subscriber churn and a slowdown in market development,” Rebello warned.
Microsoft, Nokia form global alliance to design, develop and market mobile productivity solutions
NEW YORK, USA: The worldwide leader in software and the world's largest smartphone manufacturer have entered into an alliance that is set to deliver a groundbreaking, enterprise-grade solution for mobile productivity.
Microsoft Business Division President Stephen Elop and Nokia's Executive Vice President for Devices Kai Oistamo announced the agreement, outlining a shared vision for the future of mobile productivity. This is the first time that either company has embarked on an alliance of this scope and nature.
Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies will begin collaborating immediately on the design, development and marketing of productivity solutions for the mobile professional, bringing Microsoft Office Mobile and Microsoft business communications, collaboration and device management software to Nokia's Symbian devices.
These solutions will be available for a broad range of Nokia smartphones starting with the company's business-optimized range, Nokia Eseries. The two companies will also market these solutions to businesses, carriers and individuals.
Both Microsoft Corp. and Nokia possess a rare combination of enterprise experience and consumer understanding and, in addition to the collaboration on existing software and services, will use these assets to jointly design a range of new user experiences for future Nokia devices.
These experiences will be identified together, and will be created by dedicated teams inside both companies to better meet the growing needs of the mobile professional.
"With more than 200 million smartphone customers globally, Nokia is the world's largest smartphone manufacturer and a natural partner for us," said Elop.
"Today's announcement will enable us to expand Microsoft Office Mobile to Nokia smartphone owners worldwide and allow them to collaborate on Office documents from anywhere, as part of our strategy to provide the best productivity experience across the PC, phone and browser."
"If you are going to provide a seamless and integrated productivity experience on a mobile device, Microsoft is an ideal partner," said Oistamo.
"Together with Microsoft, we will develop new and innovative user experiences for employees of small and large businesses alike, ensuring Nokia's smartphones are an integral part of the office and home-office environment, and addressing the significant opportunity in mobile enterprise productivity."
This announcement builds on the existing work Nokia is doing by optimizing access to e-mail and other personal information with Exchange ActiveSync. Next year, Nokia intends to start shipping Microsoft Office Communicator Mobile on its smartphones, followed by other Office applications and related software and services in the future. These will include:
* The ability to view, edit, create and share Office documents on more devices in more places with mobile-optimized versions of Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft OneNote.
* Enterprise instant messaging and presence, and optimized conferencing and collaboration experience with Microsoft Office Communicator Mobile
Mobile access to intranet and extranet portals built on Microsoft SharePoint Server.
* Enterprise device management with Microsoft System Center.
"Having these two major players cooperating at this level will help us continue to meet our customers' needs and reinforces our future business mobility strategy," said Diane Sanchez, head of Telefonica USA.
"The scope of the alliance between Microsoft and Nokia, and potential value for the enterprise and individual is significant," said Stephen Drake, VP of Mobility & Telecom at IDC. "By bringing Microsoft's productivity solutions to Nokia's large customer base, the two companies should be better able to serve the needs of the growing mobile worker population, which IDC estimates to reach 1 billion worldwide in 2011."
Microsoft Business Division President Stephen Elop and Nokia's Executive Vice President for Devices Kai Oistamo announced the agreement, outlining a shared vision for the future of mobile productivity. This is the first time that either company has embarked on an alliance of this scope and nature.
Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies will begin collaborating immediately on the design, development and marketing of productivity solutions for the mobile professional, bringing Microsoft Office Mobile and Microsoft business communications, collaboration and device management software to Nokia's Symbian devices.
These solutions will be available for a broad range of Nokia smartphones starting with the company's business-optimized range, Nokia Eseries. The two companies will also market these solutions to businesses, carriers and individuals.
Both Microsoft Corp. and Nokia possess a rare combination of enterprise experience and consumer understanding and, in addition to the collaboration on existing software and services, will use these assets to jointly design a range of new user experiences for future Nokia devices.
These experiences will be identified together, and will be created by dedicated teams inside both companies to better meet the growing needs of the mobile professional.
"With more than 200 million smartphone customers globally, Nokia is the world's largest smartphone manufacturer and a natural partner for us," said Elop.
"Today's announcement will enable us to expand Microsoft Office Mobile to Nokia smartphone owners worldwide and allow them to collaborate on Office documents from anywhere, as part of our strategy to provide the best productivity experience across the PC, phone and browser."
"If you are going to provide a seamless and integrated productivity experience on a mobile device, Microsoft is an ideal partner," said Oistamo.
"Together with Microsoft, we will develop new and innovative user experiences for employees of small and large businesses alike, ensuring Nokia's smartphones are an integral part of the office and home-office environment, and addressing the significant opportunity in mobile enterprise productivity."
This announcement builds on the existing work Nokia is doing by optimizing access to e-mail and other personal information with Exchange ActiveSync. Next year, Nokia intends to start shipping Microsoft Office Communicator Mobile on its smartphones, followed by other Office applications and related software and services in the future. These will include:
* The ability to view, edit, create and share Office documents on more devices in more places with mobile-optimized versions of Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft OneNote.
* Enterprise instant messaging and presence, and optimized conferencing and collaboration experience with Microsoft Office Communicator Mobile
Mobile access to intranet and extranet portals built on Microsoft SharePoint Server.
* Enterprise device management with Microsoft System Center.
"Having these two major players cooperating at this level will help us continue to meet our customers' needs and reinforces our future business mobility strategy," said Diane Sanchez, head of Telefonica USA.
"The scope of the alliance between Microsoft and Nokia, and potential value for the enterprise and individual is significant," said Stephen Drake, VP of Mobility & Telecom at IDC. "By bringing Microsoft's productivity solutions to Nokia's large customer base, the two companies should be better able to serve the needs of the growing mobile worker population, which IDC estimates to reach 1 billion worldwide in 2011."
Smartphone downloads from all app stores to reach 6.67 billion in 2014
MOUNTAIN VIEW, USA: Smartphone penetration in the US mobile markets is increasing rapidly. For some time, mobile operators have been offering a branded 'catalog' of mobile content and services that could be purchased from the handset itself.
However, all that is changing for smartphones, in which newer types of targeted app stores are being introduced to enable the device owner to purchase content from outside the operator environment. The availability of a large number of inexpensive or free mobile applications that leverage the next-generation technical capabilities of the target device will help drive adoption.
However, in the end, service differentiation and generating suitable return on investment from the app store business could be challenging.
New analysis from Frost & Sullivan: An Insight into the US Smartphone Application Storefront Market, finds that smartphone downloads from all app stores will reach 6.67 billion in 2014. The market segments covered in this research include prepaid and postpaid mobile, SMS and MMS, mobile Internet, iPhone, Android, Windows Mobile, Palm, and Symbian.
"Next-generation devices are being introduced at a rapid pace, and stakeholders are offering app stores to facilitate downloads of compelling applications from multiple categories, serving a wide range of communication, entertainment, information, and personalization requirements of the mobile user," says Frost & Sullivan Industry Analyst Vikrant Gandhi.
"For example, Apple, Google, Nokia, Palm and Microsoft have either already introduced app stores or are in various stages of app store rollouts and are working to ensure that the entire service experience is compelling for the end user or device owner."
A vast majority of applications are available 'free of cost' to the end user, significantly driving adoption in the US smartphone app store market. These applications leverage advanced device capabilities such as touch screen, accelerometers, full Web browsing, and location-based services, among others, to deliver a truly compelling proposition.
The most significant challenge is to ensure service differentiation and optimal management of the scale of the app store business. App store providers should always be open to support new business models to drive the introduction of innovative services and content types. Having a clear value proposition is also important for mobile operators.
"Unless the app store providers establish exclusivity agreements with application developers -- something that is not feasible for a large majority of applications -- it will be difficult to provide enough differentiation through the app stores," notes Gandhi.
"The best example of how this could be done is Apple's app store, in which the entire experience of service purchase and consumption -- including device characteristics, form factor and the operating environment -- was a radical shift at the time of its introduction."
This does not mean that services could not be differentiated at all. The moot point then is the extent to which providers are willing to invest in their infrastructure to offer new service to their customers, which then ties back into something that is still being examined -- identifying the main purpose of launching the app stores and if app stores alone are strong enough reasons to purchase a particular type of device.
A single participant cannot provide all the services in the mobile content industry. App store providers need to work with multiple application providers and offer them sufficient incentives for their app store initiatives.
Services of independent, third-party app store providers such as Handango, Handmark, and PocketGear can also be used to run an app store business profitably with adequate service differentiation.
"For instance, outsourcing or white-labeling of the app store business might become a good idea in the long run since a device vendor or an operating system provider may not want to commit large resources to manage the smartphone app store business," concludes Gandhi.
However, all that is changing for smartphones, in which newer types of targeted app stores are being introduced to enable the device owner to purchase content from outside the operator environment. The availability of a large number of inexpensive or free mobile applications that leverage the next-generation technical capabilities of the target device will help drive adoption.
However, in the end, service differentiation and generating suitable return on investment from the app store business could be challenging.
New analysis from Frost & Sullivan: An Insight into the US Smartphone Application Storefront Market, finds that smartphone downloads from all app stores will reach 6.67 billion in 2014. The market segments covered in this research include prepaid and postpaid mobile, SMS and MMS, mobile Internet, iPhone, Android, Windows Mobile, Palm, and Symbian.
"Next-generation devices are being introduced at a rapid pace, and stakeholders are offering app stores to facilitate downloads of compelling applications from multiple categories, serving a wide range of communication, entertainment, information, and personalization requirements of the mobile user," says Frost & Sullivan Industry Analyst Vikrant Gandhi.
"For example, Apple, Google, Nokia, Palm and Microsoft have either already introduced app stores or are in various stages of app store rollouts and are working to ensure that the entire service experience is compelling for the end user or device owner."
A vast majority of applications are available 'free of cost' to the end user, significantly driving adoption in the US smartphone app store market. These applications leverage advanced device capabilities such as touch screen, accelerometers, full Web browsing, and location-based services, among others, to deliver a truly compelling proposition.
The most significant challenge is to ensure service differentiation and optimal management of the scale of the app store business. App store providers should always be open to support new business models to drive the introduction of innovative services and content types. Having a clear value proposition is also important for mobile operators.
"Unless the app store providers establish exclusivity agreements with application developers -- something that is not feasible for a large majority of applications -- it will be difficult to provide enough differentiation through the app stores," notes Gandhi.
"The best example of how this could be done is Apple's app store, in which the entire experience of service purchase and consumption -- including device characteristics, form factor and the operating environment -- was a radical shift at the time of its introduction."
This does not mean that services could not be differentiated at all. The moot point then is the extent to which providers are willing to invest in their infrastructure to offer new service to their customers, which then ties back into something that is still being examined -- identifying the main purpose of launching the app stores and if app stores alone are strong enough reasons to purchase a particular type of device.
A single participant cannot provide all the services in the mobile content industry. App store providers need to work with multiple application providers and offer them sufficient incentives for their app store initiatives.
Services of independent, third-party app store providers such as Handango, Handmark, and PocketGear can also be used to run an app store business profitably with adequate service differentiation.
"For instance, outsourcing or white-labeling of the app store business might become a good idea in the long run since a device vendor or an operating system provider may not want to commit large resources to manage the smartphone app store business," concludes Gandhi.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Smartphones: Silver lining of declining handset market
Ovum comment from Adam Leach, Devices principal analyst.
Smartphone shipments will reach 406.7 million by 2014
UK: During 2008, in a first for the mobile industry, consumer demand for third-party applications started driving both handset sales and revenues for developers and OEMs.
Apple's success with the App Store has prompted other players to focus on devices that can enable third-party developers to easily bring applications and services to mobile phones. Subsequently the global economic downturn has stimulated a renewed focus on smartphones.
The collapse of the market for mid-tier handsets in 2009 is polarising the handset market, with vendors and mobile operators focusing on two types of handset: those targeting the low-end and high-end segments. The end result is a quickening of the replacement of 2G in favour of the high-end 3G handsets, and greater volumes of smartphones.
Ovum expects that these factors will see smartphone shipments grow by 18.7 percent between 2008 and 2009 despite the overall decline during the same period in the total mobile phone market. This growth will continue at a CAGR of 19.5 percent through to 2014, at which point smartphones will account for 29 percent of the total global handset market.
Symbian remains market leader, Google Android rising star
In 2008 Symbian OS represented 58 percent of the smartphone market. Its position as market leader has been achieved by Nokia's championing of the platform and its widespread use within the player's device portfolio. Following Nokia's acquisition of Symbian and creation of the Symbian Foundation, Nokia will continue to be an active supporter and drive the platform deeper into its portfolio.
Ovum expects Symbian OS market share will drop to 43 percent by 2014 due to rapid adoption of new platforms such as Android, although it will maintain its market leadership. From a standing start in 2008, adoption of Android will be rapid and we expect Android shipments to reach 72 million units by 2014, representing 18 percent of the market and overtaking shipments of Windows Mobile.
Android shipments will be driven by adoption by all tier-one OEMs (except Nokia) and an active developer community.
Smartphones are dead! Long live managed device platforms
While smartphones are set to proliferate over the next three to five years, the category itself will become less relevant as attention shifts towards distinguishing those devices that are actively managed by OEMs, MNOs, web companies and retailers from those that aren't.
Consumers will increasingly make buying decisions based not on a device's potential to support advanced capabilities but 'crucially' on the vendor managing their data and services on the device.
The ability to deliver a tightly integrated end-to-end service proposition including content and applications directly to consumers was pioneered by Apple and Google. Ovum describes this approach as a managed device platform (MDP), as examined in our report: "Of iPhones and Androids: redefining the smartphone and other devices."
The adoption of the MDP model by Nokia, Google, Microsoft, Sony and other major vendors will drive the adoption of those smartphone software platforms that are backed by these companies.
'Unmanaged' smartphones will still have a place in the market. However, they will appeal mainly to users who do not wish to be tied to a particular vendor's offering or are content with a more basic service package. Smartphone platforms that do not have the backing of major vendors will not ship in significant volume in five years' time.
Defining the smartphone market
Ovum defines a smartphone based on its software platform. Therefore, Ovum considers the following to be smartphone platforms: Symbian OS, Windows Mobile, Android, OS X, BlackBerry OS, Palm OS, Web OS and LiMo.
Smartphone shipments will reach 406.7 million by 2014
UK: During 2008, in a first for the mobile industry, consumer demand for third-party applications started driving both handset sales and revenues for developers and OEMs.
Apple's success with the App Store has prompted other players to focus on devices that can enable third-party developers to easily bring applications and services to mobile phones. Subsequently the global economic downturn has stimulated a renewed focus on smartphones.
The collapse of the market for mid-tier handsets in 2009 is polarising the handset market, with vendors and mobile operators focusing on two types of handset: those targeting the low-end and high-end segments. The end result is a quickening of the replacement of 2G in favour of the high-end 3G handsets, and greater volumes of smartphones.
Ovum expects that these factors will see smartphone shipments grow by 18.7 percent between 2008 and 2009 despite the overall decline during the same period in the total mobile phone market. This growth will continue at a CAGR of 19.5 percent through to 2014, at which point smartphones will account for 29 percent of the total global handset market.
Symbian remains market leader, Google Android rising star
In 2008 Symbian OS represented 58 percent of the smartphone market. Its position as market leader has been achieved by Nokia's championing of the platform and its widespread use within the player's device portfolio. Following Nokia's acquisition of Symbian and creation of the Symbian Foundation, Nokia will continue to be an active supporter and drive the platform deeper into its portfolio.
Ovum expects Symbian OS market share will drop to 43 percent by 2014 due to rapid adoption of new platforms such as Android, although it will maintain its market leadership. From a standing start in 2008, adoption of Android will be rapid and we expect Android shipments to reach 72 million units by 2014, representing 18 percent of the market and overtaking shipments of Windows Mobile.
Android shipments will be driven by adoption by all tier-one OEMs (except Nokia) and an active developer community.
Smartphones are dead! Long live managed device platforms
While smartphones are set to proliferate over the next three to five years, the category itself will become less relevant as attention shifts towards distinguishing those devices that are actively managed by OEMs, MNOs, web companies and retailers from those that aren't.
Consumers will increasingly make buying decisions based not on a device's potential to support advanced capabilities but 'crucially' on the vendor managing their data and services on the device.
The ability to deliver a tightly integrated end-to-end service proposition including content and applications directly to consumers was pioneered by Apple and Google. Ovum describes this approach as a managed device platform (MDP), as examined in our report: "Of iPhones and Androids: redefining the smartphone and other devices."
The adoption of the MDP model by Nokia, Google, Microsoft, Sony and other major vendors will drive the adoption of those smartphone software platforms that are backed by these companies.
'Unmanaged' smartphones will still have a place in the market. However, they will appeal mainly to users who do not wish to be tied to a particular vendor's offering or are content with a more basic service package. Smartphone platforms that do not have the backing of major vendors will not ship in significant volume in five years' time.
Defining the smartphone market
Ovum defines a smartphone based on its software platform. Therefore, Ovum considers the following to be smartphone platforms: Symbian OS, Windows Mobile, Android, OS X, BlackBerry OS, Palm OS, Web OS and LiMo.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Wireless Gigabit (WiGig) Alliance to promote 60GHz wireless technology
SAN JOSE, USA: Over 15 technology companies announced the Wireless Gigabit (WiGig) Alliance, an organization formed to establish a unified specification for 60 Gigahertz (GHz) wireless technologies.
The widespread availability and use of digital multimedia content has created an ever-increasing need for faster wireless connectivity that current wireless standards cannot support. This has fueled demand for a single technology that can support instantaneous file transfers, wireless display and docking, and streaming high definition media on a variety of devices.
To meet this demand, WiGig Alliance is developing a 60 GHz wireless technology that provides the optimal way to connect consumer electronics, handheld devices and personal computers.
The WiGig specification will allow devices to communicate without wires at gigabit speeds within a typical room. The group’s vision is to create a global ecosystem of interoperable products based on this specification, which will unify the next generation of entertainment, computing and communications devices at speeds more than 10 times faster than today’s WLANs.
Bringing together a diverse group of leading wireless semiconductor, PC, consumer electronics and handheld device manufacturers, WiGig Alliance is creating a unified 60 GHz specification that meets the performance and energy efficiency requirements of many types of wireless devices and applications all around the world. This will drive an interoperable ecosystem of easy-to-use, high speed, low power wireless products.
Among the companies that comprise this industry-leading board of directors are: Atheros Communications, Microsoft, Broadcom, NEC, Dell, Nokia, Intel, Panasonic, LG Electronics Inc., Samsung Electronics Co., Marvell International, Wilocity and MediaTek Inc.
“Our member companies are leaders in the wireless, CE, PC and handheld markets. They have the technical acumen and business experience to make the 60 GHz wireless technology a reality for both the home and enterprise,” said Dr. Ali Sadri, President and Chairman of the Wireless Gigabit Alliance. “To help bring this technology to market, we welcome new member companies to join our group.”
WiGig Alliance members are defining a unified specification that leverages the unlicensed 60 GHz spectrum to provide unprecedented wireless performance. This technology is being designed from the ground up to address the specific requirements of various platforms, to coexist with future 60 GHz solutions and complement millions of Wi-Fi devices already in use around the world. Wireless docking, display and entertainment, without performance compromise, will become a reality with gigabit-speed wireless I/O and eliminate the unsightly cables that clutter today’s homes and offices.
“We're now at the point where the last barrier to wireless being able to do everything that wire can has fallen,” said Craig Mathias, a Principal with the wireless and mobile advisory firm, Farpoint Group. “In both the residence and the enterprise, more capacity and throughput are always desirable. WiGig Alliance is going to deliver technology that will have an enormous impact on connectivity and mobility, information technology, consumer electronics, and many other applications.”
The WiGig specification is expected to be available to member companies in Q4 of 2009. To register as an adopter in advance of the final specification, visit http://www.WirelessGigabitAlliance.org/specifications/.
The widespread availability and use of digital multimedia content has created an ever-increasing need for faster wireless connectivity that current wireless standards cannot support. This has fueled demand for a single technology that can support instantaneous file transfers, wireless display and docking, and streaming high definition media on a variety of devices.
To meet this demand, WiGig Alliance is developing a 60 GHz wireless technology that provides the optimal way to connect consumer electronics, handheld devices and personal computers.
The WiGig specification will allow devices to communicate without wires at gigabit speeds within a typical room. The group’s vision is to create a global ecosystem of interoperable products based on this specification, which will unify the next generation of entertainment, computing and communications devices at speeds more than 10 times faster than today’s WLANs.
Bringing together a diverse group of leading wireless semiconductor, PC, consumer electronics and handheld device manufacturers, WiGig Alliance is creating a unified 60 GHz specification that meets the performance and energy efficiency requirements of many types of wireless devices and applications all around the world. This will drive an interoperable ecosystem of easy-to-use, high speed, low power wireless products.
Among the companies that comprise this industry-leading board of directors are: Atheros Communications, Microsoft, Broadcom, NEC, Dell, Nokia, Intel, Panasonic, LG Electronics Inc., Samsung Electronics Co., Marvell International, Wilocity and MediaTek Inc.
“Our member companies are leaders in the wireless, CE, PC and handheld markets. They have the technical acumen and business experience to make the 60 GHz wireless technology a reality for both the home and enterprise,” said Dr. Ali Sadri, President and Chairman of the Wireless Gigabit Alliance. “To help bring this technology to market, we welcome new member companies to join our group.”
WiGig Alliance members are defining a unified specification that leverages the unlicensed 60 GHz spectrum to provide unprecedented wireless performance. This technology is being designed from the ground up to address the specific requirements of various platforms, to coexist with future 60 GHz solutions and complement millions of Wi-Fi devices already in use around the world. Wireless docking, display and entertainment, without performance compromise, will become a reality with gigabit-speed wireless I/O and eliminate the unsightly cables that clutter today’s homes and offices.
“We're now at the point where the last barrier to wireless being able to do everything that wire can has fallen,” said Craig Mathias, a Principal with the wireless and mobile advisory firm, Farpoint Group. “In both the residence and the enterprise, more capacity and throughput are always desirable. WiGig Alliance is going to deliver technology that will have an enormous impact on connectivity and mobility, information technology, consumer electronics, and many other applications.”
The WiGig specification is expected to be available to member companies in Q4 of 2009. To register as an adopter in advance of the final specification, visit http://www.WirelessGigabitAlliance.org/specifications/.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Top 10 influential tech products of last 25 years
It's becoming a season to talk about top things, ain't it? About a fortnight back, Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), announced its Top 10 list of the most influential technology products of the past 25 years.
According to CompTIA, a total of 471 individuals participated in the CompTIA survey, which was conducted in May and June. Products developed by Microsoft claimed four of the top five spots in the poll of information technology (IT) industry professionals, conducted in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of CompTIA. Apple's iPod is the only non-Microsoft product to break into the top 5.
As per CompTIA, the top 10 most influential technology (or computing) products of the past 25 years are:
1. Internet Explorer (selected by 66 percent those surveyed)
2. MS Word (selected by 56 percent of survey respondents)
3. Windows 95 (selected by 50 percent of survey respondents)
4. Apple's iPod and MS Excel (tied at 49 percent each)
6. Blackberry (selected by 39 percent of survey respondents)
7. Adobe Photoshop (selected by 35 percent of survey respondents)
8. McAfee VirusScan (selected by 32 percent of survey respondents)
9. Netscape Navigator and Palm's PalmPilot (tied at 31 percent each)
While there will be differences of opinion about this list, and also the fact that components of MS Office have been broken up into separate components, it's quite evident yet again that Microsoft rules the computing world, and will continue to do so for a long time. Well done to the great team at Microsoft!
Now, I have my own comments regarding these selections. First, I have always believed Mac OS to be better than Windows. So, I'd put Mac OS in place of Windows 95.
I won't have MS Office there, or any components of MS Office, as I felt back in early 2000 that StarOffice and now, Open Office are equally good.
I'd replace IE with Opera, which is a lighter and much better browser, even back when it was first launched.
Yes, Apple's iPod has revolutionized digital music, but don't forget Real Player! The first time we all probably started watching videos and listen to music over the Web was by using the Real Player! For most, it was the first experience of streaming video and audio!
I agree Palm's done very well and changed the way people looked at mobile computing. However, it was the short-lived Apple's Newton, which first promised all of this. By the way, I must have the iMac on my list too.
My list would have another Adobe product, the Pagemaker, which revolutionized desktop publishing. Don't know whether people remember Quark Express! I am tempted to add Unix, or well, Linux, as it really brought open source into the great, wide open!
Lot of people are enamored by the Blackberry today. However, it was way back in 2000 when I was using my Siemens GSM phone in Hong Kong and elsewhere to send and receive emails, and also use it to search for hotels and other establishments over GPRS. In fact, at a conference in Singapore in 2002, during a survey done among the participants, I was among the three people using the GSM phone to send and receive emails! So, shouldn't mobile phones be the first on everyone's list?
Finally, I'll definitely add Tally to my list. Tally, as all Indians know, is the most widely used accounting software, starting way back in 1986. The mumbers achieved by this single accounting software is simply mind-boggling!
Therefore, friends, my list of the top 10 technology (or computing) products of the last 25 years would be:
1. Mobile phones (GSM phones, especially) -- all down the years
2. Tied between Apple's Mac OS and the iMac
3. Linux
4. McAfee's VirusScan
5. Real Player
6. Tied between Quark Express and Adobe Pagemaker
7. Netscape Navigator
8. Tally
9. Tied between StarOffice and Open Office
10. Tied between Opera browser and Apple's Newton
I am sure that most people will not agree with my selection/choices or even find my list appealing. That's fine! It's my own individual selection and I'm not canvassing for anyone in particular! These are purely my observations over the last two decades.
I am delighted at having had the privilege, like most of you, perhaps, to have had the honor of using all of these great technologies and products. Hats off to all the technologists of the world!
According to CompTIA, a total of 471 individuals participated in the CompTIA survey, which was conducted in May and June. Products developed by Microsoft claimed four of the top five spots in the poll of information technology (IT) industry professionals, conducted in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of CompTIA. Apple's iPod is the only non-Microsoft product to break into the top 5.
As per CompTIA, the top 10 most influential technology (or computing) products of the past 25 years are:
1. Internet Explorer (selected by 66 percent those surveyed)
2. MS Word (selected by 56 percent of survey respondents)
3. Windows 95 (selected by 50 percent of survey respondents)
4. Apple's iPod and MS Excel (tied at 49 percent each)
6. Blackberry (selected by 39 percent of survey respondents)
7. Adobe Photoshop (selected by 35 percent of survey respondents)
8. McAfee VirusScan (selected by 32 percent of survey respondents)
9. Netscape Navigator and Palm's PalmPilot (tied at 31 percent each)
While there will be differences of opinion about this list, and also the fact that components of MS Office have been broken up into separate components, it's quite evident yet again that Microsoft rules the computing world, and will continue to do so for a long time. Well done to the great team at Microsoft!
Now, I have my own comments regarding these selections. First, I have always believed Mac OS to be better than Windows. So, I'd put Mac OS in place of Windows 95.
I won't have MS Office there, or any components of MS Office, as I felt back in early 2000 that StarOffice and now, Open Office are equally good.
I'd replace IE with Opera, which is a lighter and much better browser, even back when it was first launched.
Yes, Apple's iPod has revolutionized digital music, but don't forget Real Player! The first time we all probably started watching videos and listen to music over the Web was by using the Real Player! For most, it was the first experience of streaming video and audio!
I agree Palm's done very well and changed the way people looked at mobile computing. However, it was the short-lived Apple's Newton, which first promised all of this. By the way, I must have the iMac on my list too.
My list would have another Adobe product, the Pagemaker, which revolutionized desktop publishing. Don't know whether people remember Quark Express! I am tempted to add Unix, or well, Linux, as it really brought open source into the great, wide open!
Lot of people are enamored by the Blackberry today. However, it was way back in 2000 when I was using my Siemens GSM phone in Hong Kong and elsewhere to send and receive emails, and also use it to search for hotels and other establishments over GPRS. In fact, at a conference in Singapore in 2002, during a survey done among the participants, I was among the three people using the GSM phone to send and receive emails! So, shouldn't mobile phones be the first on everyone's list?
Finally, I'll definitely add Tally to my list. Tally, as all Indians know, is the most widely used accounting software, starting way back in 1986. The mumbers achieved by this single accounting software is simply mind-boggling!
Therefore, friends, my list of the top 10 technology (or computing) products of the last 25 years would be:
1. Mobile phones (GSM phones, especially) -- all down the years
2. Tied between Apple's Mac OS and the iMac
3. Linux
4. McAfee's VirusScan
5. Real Player
6. Tied between Quark Express and Adobe Pagemaker
7. Netscape Navigator
8. Tally
9. Tied between StarOffice and Open Office
10. Tied between Opera browser and Apple's Newton
I am sure that most people will not agree with my selection/choices or even find my list appealing. That's fine! It's my own individual selection and I'm not canvassing for anyone in particular! These are purely my observations over the last two decades.
I am delighted at having had the privilege, like most of you, perhaps, to have had the honor of using all of these great technologies and products. Hats off to all the technologists of the world!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
