The document discusses the evolution of mobile computing and wireless technologies. It describes how convergence of the internet, wireless technologies, and mobile devices has created new opportunities for organizations. It also discusses challenges like interoperability, security, and battery life that still need to be addressed for mobile computing. The future of mobile computing looks promising as technologies continue to advance and more applications are developed.
SMAC and Innovation Transformation covers the topics:
• Innovation
• Leadership Agility
• Leading Organizational Change
• Lean Startup Principles
• SMAC and the Transformation of Innovation
Mobile World Congress 2014 - Key TakeawaysHavas Media
This year at the MWC, manufacturers, telcos and content providers all seemed to share a common goal: to bring technology and Internet access to every corner in the world. Beyond the bigger and better screens, faster processors, and integration of new functionalities in mobile devices, there was a notable shift in focus from high-end devices to less expensive and more accessible technology.
This document contains the five key areas of focus for 2014 in the mobile industry.
[ See live footage from Mobile World Congress at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dyLKbZxMNo ]
verywhere you turn, “cloud talk” is all the rage – and mobility in the cloud is no exception. In this whitepaper, learn about the advantages of leveraging the Mobile Cloud as the foundation for your mobile strategy.
http://www.ericsson.com/thinkingahead/networked_society
Digitalization has unleashed a wave of transformation across a range of industries. The pace of change has been mind boggling and will only continue to accelerate. Everything from business models and product categories to financing and human resources will transform in order to take advantage of the possibilities of the Networked Society.
A Platform for Mobile Enterprise Management: Build, Run and Manage Your Mobil...Antenna Software
To offer a truly differentiated mobile experience, businesses need to consider the full spectrum of what mobility has to offer. AMPchroma provides the overarching paradigm for achieving mobility excellence and is the only mobile cloud platform that enables you to deliver on this promise.
Deloitte Technology Media and Telecommunications Predictions 2016David Graham
Welcome to the 2016 edition of Deloitte’s predictions for the Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (TMT) sectors. These Predictions reveal the perspectives gained from hundreds of conversations with industry leaders, and tens of thousands of consumer interviews across the globe
A brief introduction to Internet of Things (IoT) and SMAC (social, mobile, analytics and cloud), the concept that four technologies are currently driving innovation in business.
Internet of Things (IoT) - We Are at the Tip of An IcebergDr. Mazlan Abbas
You are likely benefitting from The Internet of Things (IoT) today, whether or not you’re familiar with the term. If your phone automatically connects to your car radio, or if you have a smartwatch counting your steps, congratulations! You have adopted one small piece of a very large IoT pie, even if you haven't adopted the name yet.
IoT may sound like a business buzzword, but in reality, it’s a real technological revolution that will impact everything we do. It's the next IT Tsunami of new possibility that is destined to change the face of technology, as we know it. IoT is the interconnectivity between things using wireless communication technology (each with their own unique identifiers) to connect objects, locations, animals, or people to the Internet, thus allowing for the direct transmission of and seamless sharing of data.
IoT represents a massive wave of technical innovation. Highly valuable companies will be built and new ecosystems will emerge from bridging the offline world with the online into one gigantic new network. Our limited understanding of the possibilities hinders our ability to see future applications for any new technology. Mainstream adoption of desktop computers and the Internet didn’t take hold until they became affordable and usable. When that occurred, fantastic and creative new innovation ensued. We are on the cusp of that tipping point with the Internet of Things.
IoT matters because it will create new industries, new companies, new jobs, and new economic growth. It will transform existing segments of our economy: retail, farming, industrial, logistics, cities, and the environment. It will turn your smartphone into the command center for the both digital and physical objects in your life. You will live and work smarter, not harder – and what we are seeing now is only the tip of the iceberg.
Brands are building up their mobile presence - comprised of apps, websites, and app stores - with the goal of interacting and engaging with consumers across every touch point. But why have relatively few brands effectively mastered the mobile channel? Find out in a report detailing survey findings of 1,000+ mobility influencers across the US and UK. We uncovered how much brands are investing in mobile projects, what their mobile priorities are and what frustrates them about mobilizing their businesses.
This is my second lecture about experience design at HITLab i Ne Zealand. As designers we have this amazing opportunity to change the world, thus, in fact, we always design for the future and not the present. I believe that it is crucial to understand the changes that transform our societies not only from the economical or social perspective but also from the technological one. Trends allow us to see what the future could be like and provide inspiration to change it in a way be trust would be the best.
SMAC and Innovation Transformation covers the topics:
• Innovation
• Leadership Agility
• Leading Organizational Change
• Lean Startup Principles
• SMAC and the Transformation of Innovation
Mobile World Congress 2014 - Key TakeawaysHavas Media
This year at the MWC, manufacturers, telcos and content providers all seemed to share a common goal: to bring technology and Internet access to every corner in the world. Beyond the bigger and better screens, faster processors, and integration of new functionalities in mobile devices, there was a notable shift in focus from high-end devices to less expensive and more accessible technology.
This document contains the five key areas of focus for 2014 in the mobile industry.
[ See live footage from Mobile World Congress at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dyLKbZxMNo ]
verywhere you turn, “cloud talk” is all the rage – and mobility in the cloud is no exception. In this whitepaper, learn about the advantages of leveraging the Mobile Cloud as the foundation for your mobile strategy.
http://www.ericsson.com/thinkingahead/networked_society
Digitalization has unleashed a wave of transformation across a range of industries. The pace of change has been mind boggling and will only continue to accelerate. Everything from business models and product categories to financing and human resources will transform in order to take advantage of the possibilities of the Networked Society.
A Platform for Mobile Enterprise Management: Build, Run and Manage Your Mobil...Antenna Software
To offer a truly differentiated mobile experience, businesses need to consider the full spectrum of what mobility has to offer. AMPchroma provides the overarching paradigm for achieving mobility excellence and is the only mobile cloud platform that enables you to deliver on this promise.
Deloitte Technology Media and Telecommunications Predictions 2016David Graham
Welcome to the 2016 edition of Deloitte’s predictions for the Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (TMT) sectors. These Predictions reveal the perspectives gained from hundreds of conversations with industry leaders, and tens of thousands of consumer interviews across the globe
A brief introduction to Internet of Things (IoT) and SMAC (social, mobile, analytics and cloud), the concept that four technologies are currently driving innovation in business.
Internet of Things (IoT) - We Are at the Tip of An IcebergDr. Mazlan Abbas
You are likely benefitting from The Internet of Things (IoT) today, whether or not you’re familiar with the term. If your phone automatically connects to your car radio, or if you have a smartwatch counting your steps, congratulations! You have adopted one small piece of a very large IoT pie, even if you haven't adopted the name yet.
IoT may sound like a business buzzword, but in reality, it’s a real technological revolution that will impact everything we do. It's the next IT Tsunami of new possibility that is destined to change the face of technology, as we know it. IoT is the interconnectivity between things using wireless communication technology (each with their own unique identifiers) to connect objects, locations, animals, or people to the Internet, thus allowing for the direct transmission of and seamless sharing of data.
IoT represents a massive wave of technical innovation. Highly valuable companies will be built and new ecosystems will emerge from bridging the offline world with the online into one gigantic new network. Our limited understanding of the possibilities hinders our ability to see future applications for any new technology. Mainstream adoption of desktop computers and the Internet didn’t take hold until they became affordable and usable. When that occurred, fantastic and creative new innovation ensued. We are on the cusp of that tipping point with the Internet of Things.
IoT matters because it will create new industries, new companies, new jobs, and new economic growth. It will transform existing segments of our economy: retail, farming, industrial, logistics, cities, and the environment. It will turn your smartphone into the command center for the both digital and physical objects in your life. You will live and work smarter, not harder – and what we are seeing now is only the tip of the iceberg.
Brands are building up their mobile presence - comprised of apps, websites, and app stores - with the goal of interacting and engaging with consumers across every touch point. But why have relatively few brands effectively mastered the mobile channel? Find out in a report detailing survey findings of 1,000+ mobility influencers across the US and UK. We uncovered how much brands are investing in mobile projects, what their mobile priorities are and what frustrates them about mobilizing their businesses.
This is my second lecture about experience design at HITLab i Ne Zealand. As designers we have this amazing opportunity to change the world, thus, in fact, we always design for the future and not the present. I believe that it is crucial to understand the changes that transform our societies not only from the economical or social perspective but also from the technological one. Trends allow us to see what the future could be like and provide inspiration to change it in a way be trust would be the best.
Your IT network’s under increasing pressure. Customers expect to reach you through any channel and device, with a consistent experience every time. Employees rely on mobile devices to collaborate wherever they are.
2017 brings many changes from the political landscape to healthcare to technology. Whether you're a CEO, entrepreneur, small business owner, professional or part of management at a non-profit organization.
As 2017 looms ahead businesses, CEO's, C-level management, as well as non-profit or political leadership need to take a look ahead and see what the new adaptive technologies and business trends can be harnessed and applied to their model in order to operate more efficiently.
EssaysExperts.net is the only custom writing service that uses ultra modern approaches coupled with thorough training in providing high quality academic writing services. Our services will enable you achieve success and realize your academic dreams. At http://www.essaysexperts.net/ ,we are the best solution for your acdemic assignments
From artificial intelligence and augmented reality to multi-connected businesses and new mobility, the focus is on a wide variety of technology – but which trends have a lasting influence on digital transformation, in a post-COVID world? A Social Friendly Report.
A forecast of the needs of future business communications users, based on research by Martin Geddes and Dean Bubley. We address the questions: What are the future communications needs of workers? How and where do people work?
SMAC is upsetting the domain. No CIO dialogue is accomplished devoid of considering influence
of SMAC on industry and business. Rapid developments in this technology pile are accumulating
value to complete breadth of businesses and industries. Rewards are several and appear very
captivating, with assurances being made as big as - forecasting future (Analytics), accessible
everywhere (Mobile), everything is so easy and networked (Social), and at a very low cost (Cloud).
This fresh technology pile has begun changing tomorrow's organization and has influence on every
part of a business, therefore consequently on the every software applications being utilize inside
the company and by the company.
The Future of Meetings is Going Mobile MeetingMogul
The evolution of mobile technology has disrupted modern day communications in a big way.
This presentation provides an insight into how this innovation has impacted the way we connect to meetings and highlights some of the major conference call service providers operating in the mobile space.
http://www.meetingmogulapp.com/
The Mobile Enterprise:
Putting business in motion.
Informed and inspired by 20,000 Smarter Planet engagements, here’s what we know and believe about mobile.
GraphRAG is All You need? LLM & Knowledge GraphGuy Korland
Guy Korland, CEO and Co-founder of FalkorDB, will review two articles on the integration of language models with knowledge graphs.
1. Unifying Large Language Models and Knowledge Graphs: A Roadmap.
https://arxiv.org/abs/2306.08302
2. Microsoft Research's GraphRAG paper and a review paper on various uses of knowledge graphs:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/blog/graphrag-unlocking-llm-discovery-on-narrative-private-data/
Why You Should Replace Windows 11 with Nitrux Linux 3.5.0 for enhanced perfor...SOFTTECHHUB
The choice of an operating system plays a pivotal role in shaping our computing experience. For decades, Microsoft's Windows has dominated the market, offering a familiar and widely adopted platform for personal and professional use. However, as technological advancements continue to push the boundaries of innovation, alternative operating systems have emerged, challenging the status quo and offering users a fresh perspective on computing.
One such alternative that has garnered significant attention and acclaim is Nitrux Linux 3.5.0, a sleek, powerful, and user-friendly Linux distribution that promises to redefine the way we interact with our devices. With its focus on performance, security, and customization, Nitrux Linux presents a compelling case for those seeking to break free from the constraints of proprietary software and embrace the freedom and flexibility of open-source computing.
Transcript: Selling digital books in 2024: Insights from industry leaders - T...BookNet Canada
The publishing industry has been selling digital audiobooks and ebooks for over a decade and has found its groove. What’s changed? What has stayed the same? Where do we go from here? Join a group of leading sales peers from across the industry for a conversation about the lessons learned since the popularization of digital books, best practices, digital book supply chain management, and more.
Link to video recording: https://bnctechforum.ca/sessions/selling-digital-books-in-2024-insights-from-industry-leaders/
Presented by BookNet Canada on May 28, 2024, with support from the Department of Canadian Heritage.
Securing your Kubernetes cluster_ a step-by-step guide to success !KatiaHIMEUR1
Today, after several years of existence, an extremely active community and an ultra-dynamic ecosystem, Kubernetes has established itself as the de facto standard in container orchestration. Thanks to a wide range of managed services, it has never been so easy to set up a ready-to-use Kubernetes cluster.
However, this ease of use means that the subject of security in Kubernetes is often left for later, or even neglected. This exposes companies to significant risks.
In this talk, I'll show you step-by-step how to secure your Kubernetes cluster for greater peace of mind and reliability.
In his public lecture, Christian Timmerer provides insights into the fascinating history of video streaming, starting from its humble beginnings before YouTube to the groundbreaking technologies that now dominate platforms like Netflix and ORF ON. Timmerer also presents provocative contributions of his own that have significantly influenced the industry. He concludes by looking at future challenges and invites the audience to join in a discussion.
Essentials of Automations: The Art of Triggers and Actions in FMESafe Software
In this second installment of our Essentials of Automations webinar series, we’ll explore the landscape of triggers and actions, guiding you through the nuances of authoring and adapting workspaces for seamless automations. Gain an understanding of the full spectrum of triggers and actions available in FME, empowering you to enhance your workspaces for efficient automation.
We’ll kick things off by showcasing the most commonly used event-based triggers, introducing you to various automation workflows like manual triggers, schedules, directory watchers, and more. Plus, see how these elements play out in real scenarios.
Whether you’re tweaking your current setup or building from the ground up, this session will arm you with the tools and insights needed to transform your FME usage into a powerhouse of productivity. Join us to discover effective strategies that simplify complex processes, enhancing your productivity and transforming your data management practices with FME. Let’s turn complexity into clarity and make your workspaces work wonders!
Dev Dives: Train smarter, not harder – active learning and UiPath LLMs for do...UiPathCommunity
💥 Speed, accuracy, and scaling – discover the superpowers of GenAI in action with UiPath Document Understanding and Communications Mining™:
See how to accelerate model training and optimize model performance with active learning
Learn about the latest enhancements to out-of-the-box document processing – with little to no training required
Get an exclusive demo of the new family of UiPath LLMs – GenAI models specialized for processing different types of documents and messages
This is a hands-on session specifically designed for automation developers and AI enthusiasts seeking to enhance their knowledge in leveraging the latest intelligent document processing capabilities offered by UiPath.
Speakers:
👨🏫 Andras Palfi, Senior Product Manager, UiPath
👩🏫 Lenka Dulovicova, Product Program Manager, UiPath
LF Energy Webinar: Electrical Grid Modelling and Simulation Through PowSyBl -...DanBrown980551
Do you want to learn how to model and simulate an electrical network from scratch in under an hour?
Then welcome to this PowSyBl workshop, hosted by Rte, the French Transmission System Operator (TSO)!
During the webinar, you will discover the PowSyBl ecosystem as well as handle and study an electrical network through an interactive Python notebook.
PowSyBl is an open source project hosted by LF Energy, which offers a comprehensive set of features for electrical grid modelling and simulation. Among other advanced features, PowSyBl provides:
- A fully editable and extendable library for grid component modelling;
- Visualization tools to display your network;
- Grid simulation tools, such as power flows, security analyses (with or without remedial actions) and sensitivity analyses;
The framework is mostly written in Java, with a Python binding so that Python developers can access PowSyBl functionalities as well.
What you will learn during the webinar:
- For beginners: discover PowSyBl's functionalities through a quick general presentation and the notebook, without needing any expert coding skills;
- For advanced developers: master the skills to efficiently apply PowSyBl functionalities to your real-world scenarios.
The Metaverse and AI: how can decision-makers harness the Metaverse for their...Jen Stirrup
The Metaverse is popularized in science fiction, and now it is becoming closer to being a part of our daily lives through the use of social media and shopping companies. How can businesses survive in a world where Artificial Intelligence is becoming the present as well as the future of technology, and how does the Metaverse fit into business strategy when futurist ideas are developing into reality at accelerated rates? How do we do this when our data isn't up to scratch? How can we move towards success with our data so we are set up for the Metaverse when it arrives?
How can you help your company evolve, adapt, and succeed using Artificial Intelligence and the Metaverse to stay ahead of the competition? What are the potential issues, complications, and benefits that these technologies could bring to us and our organizations? In this session, Jen Stirrup will explain how to start thinking about these technologies as an organisation.
Alt. GDG Cloud Southlake #33: Boule & Rebala: Effective AppSec in SDLC using ...James Anderson
Effective Application Security in Software Delivery lifecycle using Deployment Firewall and DBOM
The modern software delivery process (or the CI/CD process) includes many tools, distributed teams, open-source code, and cloud platforms. Constant focus on speed to release software to market, along with the traditional slow and manual security checks has caused gaps in continuous security as an important piece in the software supply chain. Today organizations feel more susceptible to external and internal cyber threats due to the vast attack surface in their applications supply chain and the lack of end-to-end governance and risk management.
The software team must secure its software delivery process to avoid vulnerability and security breaches. This needs to be achieved with existing tool chains and without extensive rework of the delivery processes. This talk will present strategies and techniques for providing visibility into the true risk of the existing vulnerabilities, preventing the introduction of security issues in the software, resolving vulnerabilities in production environments quickly, and capturing the deployment bill of materials (DBOM).
Speakers:
Bob Boule
Robert Boule is a technology enthusiast with PASSION for technology and making things work along with a knack for helping others understand how things work. He comes with around 20 years of solution engineering experience in application security, software continuous delivery, and SaaS platforms. He is known for his dynamic presentations in CI/CD and application security integrated in software delivery lifecycle.
Gopinath Rebala
Gopinath Rebala is the CTO of OpsMx, where he has overall responsibility for the machine learning and data processing architectures for Secure Software Delivery. Gopi also has a strong connection with our customers, leading design and architecture for strategic implementations. Gopi is a frequent speaker and well-known leader in continuous delivery and integrating security into software delivery.
DevOps and Testing slides at DASA ConnectKari Kakkonen
My and Rik Marselis slides at 30.5.2024 DASA Connect conference. We discuss about what is testing, then what is agile testing and finally what is Testing in DevOps. Finally we had lovely workshop with the participants trying to find out different ways to think about quality and testing in different parts of the DevOps infinity loop.
The Art of the Pitch: WordPress Relationships and SalesLaura Byrne
Clients don’t know what they don’t know. What web solutions are right for them? How does WordPress come into the picture? How do you make sure you understand scope and timeline? What do you do if sometime changes?
All these questions and more will be explored as we talk about matching clients’ needs with what your agency offers without pulling teeth or pulling your hair out. Practical tips, and strategies for successful relationship building that leads to closing the deal.
2. The next phase of the Internet revolution is here Wireless Data is the promise to bring about an information communications revolution that will connect anybody, anywhere to any information, instantly! The content distribution boundaries are fading out. The convergence of technologies is creating extraordinary opportunities for organizations to break down the boundaries between people and information .
3. Convergence of Internet and Wireless technologies has made mobile computing the technology that will deliver. Mobile wireless technologies are going to act as glue towards bringing together the wired and wireless to share and distribute information seamlessly across each other’s are as of reference. Impact: Like any new technology, the Mobile Computing world has also generated a lot of excitement and hype. Given this scenario, it is important that the basic principles and concepts behind these technologies are well understood and realistically applied to a solution in order to generate the maximum possible benefit for the organization investing in this technology.
4. Wireless Technologies have simply been popular owing to their contribution in enhancing the user experience to instantly connect anytime and from anywhere. These technologies are enhancing themselves constantly to make available more and more high-speed data rates to consumers on their mobile devices. A true convergence is likely once the quality of information exchange and the speed rates are capable of matching up to those of fixed networks.
5. Implementation of a wireless solution enables an organization to create, access, process, store and exchange information with out the constraint of a single location. This improves the quality, accessibility, efficiency and, therefore, effectiveness of the information. Mobile computing can be achieved by a combination of hardware, systems, middleware and application software and some mode of communication. This has been made possible in recent times due to the evolution of extremely powerful but small computing devices such as smartphones and PDAs, and subsequently, relevant software and communication infrastructures.
6. So why is mobile computing needed ? Today, a lot of business happens while people are in the field; a lot of time is spent travelling and the customer constantly demands more focused services. Hence, it can be understood that wherever business needs to happen outside the corporate walls, there is an opportunity for Mobile Computing. It could also be effectively applied to other fields such as tele-medicine, safety engineering, disaster management, e-governance, etc. In other words, the term Mobile Computing can be defined as describing the use of computing devices — which usually interact in some fashion with a central information system — while away from the normal, fixed workplace.
7.
8. While telecom infrastructures have made it possible to have online transactions, device manufacturers have come up with small versions of computing devices, with pocket sizes, that could run small applications and carry personalized information. With operating systems such as PalmOS, Widows Mobile, Symbian, Android and Mac Os it has been possible for the people on the move to carry compelling application and valuable information such as a personal calendar, emails, appointments,etc., on a small device, which can later be synchronized with the PC when they get back home or to the office.
9. Emergence of these devices and technologies have led to a huge potential to develop applications in varied segments, be it banking, airlines, stocks, advertisements, insurance, gaming, gambling, CRM, Location-Based Services, etc. Anything and everything that was available to a user on the Internet has the potential to be menabled for the user on the move. In addition, the technology has provided an avenue to launch services that can match the unique needs of a mobile person. This has led to tremendous IT investment opportunities for organizations to develop a variety of solutions, right from stacks, to utilities, to accessories, to portals, to services. Online transactions on the move have enabled the efficiency and effectiveness of any business process. Keeping this in mind, it is important to understand all these aspects of Mobile Computing technologies in the right perspective, in order to have a proper overall strategy towards absorbing these technologies in an organization .
10. Challenges Like any new and emerging technology, the mobile computing market is itself going through its own evolutionary process. New communication media, data access protocols, devices, operating systems and middleware are emerging from time to time. The basic issue that all these technologies are looking at is the nature of the medium itself. Interoperability and accessibility become important to any service in the mobile arena. The problems of battery life, security of information as well as of the device itself are still being addressed and technologies are still evolving. While all these issues remain to be addressed, it cannot be denied that the technology has immense potential to enable a customer to have enhanced experience in terms of accessing valuable information while he/she is playing golf, relaxing on a beach, waiting for a meeting, travelling in a train, and many more scenarios. Investments in research and development to improve the underlying technologies is only going to accelerate more investments in providing customers specialized services while they are on the move.
11. Future Watch : Future 3G technologies such as EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, and HSUPA and 4G+1 Broad band will enable a larger amount of data that can be exchanged while on the move and will determine the path the wired and wireless computing field will take. This will create the need for convergence of digital appliances, assimilation of the technologies, fading of content distribution boundaries and therefore, the need to provide a common framework for organizations to meet these challenges. It isn't tough anymore to imagine the near future where the small machine in the pocket will replace a variety of appliances that a person needs to carry — mobile phones, personal computer, driver license, credit card, remote control, security device, smart cash, etc. — all combined in a single device . .
12. Mobile Computing is a versatile technology that has created the necessity for organizations to review their existing business processes and realign them to a mobile workforce and customer base, in order to improve operational efficiency, communication, and customer service, with a view to reduce the overall business cycles. It provides the IT solution providers with immense opportunity to strategize and implement solutions that will eventually be of benefit to the organization.
13. The backbone of the Mobile Wireless revolution comprises the underlying communication technologies that are driving the information bandwidth available to consumers on the move. What once started out as a medium to exchange phone calls while on the move, has evolved into a realistic medium over which people, companies and organizations can exchange valuable data. Already, initiatives such as SMS, WAP,Wi-Fi, WI-MAX, Bluetooth, LTE, etc., have exploited the data capability of wireless networks to deliver value-added services to the customers.
14. Mobile phones no longer are limited to making phone calls . In today’s world, the purpose envisioned in the designer’s mind becomes more important. Our collective creativity at MICRONICS is giving rise to innovative mobile phone designs and new models that will create “Blue oceans” of uncontested market space. We must continue to develop cutting-edge technologies and services based on the smart phone to allow users access to a wealth of information, provided at affordable prices anytime and anyplace .
15. Smart phones are sophisticated devices that are not shared by multiple users, and their replacement cycle is shorter than that of other IT products. For these reasons, the size of the global mobile phone market continues to grow. Just 41 million mobile phones were sold worldwide in 1995, and annual growth in the advanced markets never exceeded 10%. However, growth in the emerging markets has continued to rise, and global sales surpassed 950 million units in 2006 to record sells of 1-Billion units in 2007 .
16. Fashion and Style in the Mobile Handset Industry The handset as a canvas for fashion, style and branding A sociological connection between fashion and the mobile handset? In the space of 15 years, the mobile handset has moved from a niche telephony device, to become the most ubiquitous item of personal consumer electronics worldwide. This has made it an obvious tableau for the expression of an individual’s fashion tastes and style .
17. The handset is a fully mobile device: it travels every where with its owner and is visible to others. To make a call it is placed to the side of the head. To compose a text, the device is held out in front. It is laid out on tables in office meeting rooms and school canteens, beside you in restaurants, and at the bar. The handset can act as an ideal canvas for an outward and visible statement of the owner’s tastes and values. Fashion is the ever-changing pattern of consumer tastes, driven by a wide range of random events. Events such as war, a shift in house prices, the introduction of a new technology, or the emergence of a new musical sound, can influence the consumer taste curve. In practice, fashion is something more specific. It is a set of seasonally driven colors, styles, and motifs that are combined and mixed in a huge variety of ways by a wide range of parties in order to appeal to targeted consumer demographics. This is not restricted to designers sending dresses down the catwalk, but also includes car manufacturers, furniture producers and mobile handset manufacturers, among many others .
18. A fashion handset is one where the consumer’s purchase decision is based primarily on the aesthetics of the device. The aesthetics include both the styling of the device as well as any brand associated with it. Today, the primary conduit for fashion and style into the handset market are the handset vendors themselves. As a result of the increasingly commoditized conditions in the handset industry, the return on technology innovation is falling. In an age of standardized handset platforms, it is increasingly difficult for Tier One vendors to differentiate their products from that of low-cost, Asian ODMs by simply adding enhanced technology features. For the consumer faced with a range of seemingly identical devices from a technical perspective, fashion and sty ling allow a reasoned, value-driven consumption decisions to be made. The aesthetics of a device can generate an emotional response by consumers, to which they will ascribe a value and for which they will pay a premium. The result is that fashion and styling are playing an increasingly important role in the profitability strategies of The result is that fashion and styling are playing an increasingly important role in the profitability strategies of the handset manufacturers as they strive to distinguish their products in the market.
19. This has been, and will continue to be, a key driver of fashion into the mobile handset market. This report examines the fashion and style strategies employed by the major handset vendors in the market today. These strategies fall into four groups, consisting of: the incorporation of fashion and styling elements across a handset portfolio; co-branding collaborations with fashion brands; formation of a sub-portfolio of handsets geared specifically at the fashion and style conscious market; and the establishment of independent, fashion focused handset subsidiaries.
20. There are clear benefits for the mobile operators in distributing fashionable and branded handsets through their channel, including opportunities for customer retention, customer acquisition, ARPU growth, enhancement of brand values and subsidy removal. However, there are also a number of difficulties for operators in becoming involved with these devices, and much of these issues revolve around conflicts of brand. As the market matures and consumers’ handset tastes become more sophisticated, demand for fashion phones will increase. We estimate that, by 2010, sufficient consumer demand will exist to support the sale of 23 million fashion and luxury fashion handsets. While this will account for just 2% of all handsets shipped worldwide, the sale of these phones will constitute 12% of handset retail revenue .
21. The Power Shift: Challenges Facing Handset Manufacturers In the early 1990s, mobile phones were basic devices designed with voice as the core functionality. Issues such as UI design and platform standards for content creation were not only ignored, they were largely irrelevant due to immature handset technology. Most applications were embedded programs written in native code, and operator branding was barely, if at all, a concern. However, the advent of new technologies such as color displays, integrated cameras, and enhanced data download capabilities, combined with continual improvements in application processors, memory size, sound quality, and input methods, enabled the mobile phone to break beyond the voice-only barrier, opening the door to a wealth of new, powerful applications. Suddenly, the simple mobile phone had become an extremely intelligent device, capable of downloading digital music, playing interactive multiplayer games, sending email, text messages and even paying for bus fare. Conclusions:
22. These changes were mirrored by a dramatic shift in power between the handset manufacturer and the wireless carrier that has redefined how handset manufacturers stay competitive. In stark contrast to the early years of the mobile industry, when carriers would accept whatever devices handset manufacturers chose to produce, today’s market dynamics have placed carriers, rather than handset manufacturers, in a position of power, unless unique innovation and value otherwise. As a result, handset manufacturers that once only customized their devices to ensure network compatibility in different regions must now manufacture to meet extensive specification lists on a handset-by-handset and carrier-by-carrier basis.
23. As the ultimate provider of access and, more important, the owner of the billing relationship with mobile phone subscribers, wireless carriers are in a unique position of power. In order to lock in future success, wireless carriers must be able to differentiate themselves from their competitors and provide unique value-added services to their end users while managing the complexities of data service acquisition, management, and delivery. To date, despite their enviable role in the market, most carriers still experience difficulties fully leveraging their position due to their struggle to condense a variety of different content streams and distribution methods into useful value-added services they can deliver to their subscribers. Moreover, as voice revenue declines due to commoditization, the importance of improving the data revenue stream is increasing dramatically .
24. As these devices become an integral part of our everyday life, next generation networks technology will allow consumers to communicate simultaneously with multiple parties using real time global video share. Broadband 4G+1 networks will also allow more information to travel across networks. Micronics Mobility management believes that smart mobile devices such as the SWITCHBOX™ fits the ideal profile for intelligent platforms. Micronics Mobility management also believes that unique platforms extend the benefits of access and mobile connectivity to customers, providing them with flexible solutions adaptable to suit their needs. This is an area that forms part of our strategy going forward. This strategy will result in a substantial opportunity for growth to capture market share and develop a profitable business model.