Topic: Mobile and Wireless
The wireless customer is ready to have all manner of devices constantly connected to the wireless network anytime, anywhere, with consistent quality service in every location. But are the current wireless carriers and service providers ready to deliver? The panelists note that while innovation abounds many of the key challenges that plague customer service still remain. Both business and consumer customers are still looking for the wireless technology and service package that serves all their needs.
Using actual muni deployments as case studies, BelAir Networks CTO Stephen Rayment explains voice on WiFi and how WiFi networks are far more efficient when they migrate to a mesh model. Rayment describes muni mesh WiFi networks in detail and how cities can maximize a mesh network's ability to carry voice applications as well as data.
Mobile phones have evolved into a mature media platform capable of much more than just making calls or processing textual data. Nokia is empowering developers with APIs for their mobile platforms. At the 2006 Emerging Telephone Conference, Srikanth Raju, who works at Forum Nokia's technical services, presents the company's plans for mobile, VoIP and open source technologies.
FON, the largest WiFi community in the world, is powered by the belief that the internet should be everywhere there are people. Building a network from the ground up, FON members willingly share their wireless access at home. In return, they enjoy free WiFi and VOIP wherever they find another member's access point. In this talk, entrepreneur Ejovi Nuwere explains the energy behind the FON movement for "everyone, everywhere" internet access, driven by the explosion of ubiquitous bandwidth and WiFi-enabled devices.
Brian Capouch is proud of his rural Indiana roots but believes that the definition of rural should not include having to forego internet access and VOIP. In a lively and humorous presentation, the computer science professor from Saint Joseph's College describes his attempts to bring wireless internet and VOIP to a low density population, how he controls costs, and the threat posed to his endeavor by recent legislation.
Linux and open source have a strong momentum and Linux has become the fastest growing operating system for smartphones, and Trolltech's co-founder Eirik Chambe-Eng discusses many of the questions related to this change. Why are more consumer electronics manufacturers adopting Linux? Why does it make sense to run it on your phone? What are the benefits of the open source model, and what are the potential problems or pitfalls of using open source when producing mobile devices?
In the not-too-distant future, the majority of electronic devices will be connected via the Internet or wireless protocols, bringing convenience and simplicity to daily living, but adding layers of technology and complexity to devices we use everyday. Jerry Fiddler offers a glimpse to his vision of the future: "The Connected World." He discusses how this "world system" will evolve through the convergence of multiple technologies resulting in one, giant interoperable system.
Our cellphones are watching us! In this session from the O'Reilly Where 2.0 Conference 2005, Nathan Eagle introduces research conducted at the MIT Media Lab that shows how publicly available data from mobile devices can be used to observe and predict the activities of individuals and groups. At the end of this short talk, Eagle examines the privacy dangers inherent in the analysis of the data already being collected by service providers.
William Quigley, managing director of Clearstone Venture Partners, believes that the incumbent RBOCs will remain strong as they continue to reinvent and reinvest in infrastructure. Where are the emerging opportunities in telephony? Mr. Quigley identifies two areas for telephony entrepeneurs. First, focus on areas in which the big RBOCs are not as strong - applications and managed services. Second, with projections that two-thirds of all network connections will be mobile by 2009, pay close attention to new trends in wireless and mobile VOIP.
There are four screen networks that touch the everyday lives of many consumers: TV, Web, mobile phones, and out-of-home media. Stephen Randall, CEO of LocaModa and founder of Symbian, explains that, without a strategy to connect the dots between these four screens, the target market or many products and services might just as well be on the dark side of the moon.
