CTIA 2011: Tablets in Cloud Computing, Collaboration and Consumerization

Cloud computing, mobile applications, tablet computers and consumerization will be among the top trends and issues discussed next week when CTIA Enterprise & Applications 2011 rolls into San Diego.  

Although CTIA is traditionally a wireless and smartphone event, the development and expansion of cloud-based applications and activities, especially in the enterprise, has had a significant impact on how existing and new mobile devices are used and future device designs are now being mapped out. In fact, worldwide revenues from public IT cloud services exceeded $16 billion in 2009 and are expected to hit the $55.5B mark by 2014, according to market researcher IDC. This represents a 27.4% compound annual growth rate, which is roughly five times that of regular IT products, notes IDC.

The continuing economic downturn has also accelerated cloud computing efforts within most companies since it offers a lot of cost-cutting benefits, as compared with traditional computing techniques. Cloud computing, mobile applications and the use of relatively inexpensive tablet devices provide a relatively safe way to improve productivity, collaborate internally, and reach more customers without adding more people to the payroll.

Consumerization, or the adoption and use of consumer devices within businesses of all sizes, is also a strong trend as companies officially and unofficially deal with the flood of tablet devices, smartphones and other highly-mobile and Web-centric devices that are coming in through both the front and back doors.  

These devices make applications and data available to a wider base of people within an organization, which has both benefits and dangers in terms of management, control and impact on IT resources. As a result, many companies are looking to develop and deploy ‘mobile cloud’ tools and controls that are totally separate from exiting security and management policies, notes The Yankee Group, another research agency.

CTIA will provide a lot of opportunities to explore these trends and more through sessions planned by CTIA organizers and events sponsored by partner organizations. The Yankee Group, for example, will talk clouds at a “Mobile Clouds Means Business” session scheduled to take place on Tuesday October 11. During the summit, Yankee Group analysts and other industry thought leaders will present interactive sessions on a range of topics, including: 

• Business cases for applying cloud-based tools, applications and mobility solutions to help IT embrace the consumerization wave, democratize IT and usher in a new era of worker productivity. 
• Strategies for service providers to partner effectively and deliver differentiated solutions to support the mobile cloud. 
• Key mobile cloud vendors and technologies, as well as strategies for mobile cloud integration. 

“Enterprise IT must embrace the change and command the power of mobile cloud or risk becoming obsolete,” notes George Hamilton, Yankee Group principal analyst.

Disrupting the Business Status Quo
Later in the week, a CTIA keynote panel session will explore the role disruptive technologies play in revolutionizing and advancing business. Executives on the panel will detail how their strategies are making a huge impact in the wireless industry, specifically in the areas of mobile payments, mobile marketing and mobile video. The session will conclude with a roundtable discussion on technology disruptors and emerging mobile technology solutions.

Panelists include:  Daniel Mattes, CEO of Jumio, a company at the forefront of secure online payment solutions; Cyriac Roeding, co-founder and CEO of shopkick, a downloadable app that provides consumers with active deals and rewards; and Eric Setton, co-founder and CTO of Tango, a mobile video communications provider that offers a solution for making free video calls and free phone calls on the iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and Android phones and tablets.

CTIA will also host a number of educational “Boardroom Sessions” as part of its Power Series tracks that allows attendees to tap into the thoughts and strategies of top executives who will discuss topics ranging from mobile applications and vertical industries to mCommerce, mobile advertising and even mobile gaming. These education sessions are scheduled to take place on the first two days of the CTIA event (Oct. 11 and 12) and be formatted to both educate and enlighten attendees.  

Executives slated to take part in the sessions include: Rob Chandhok, President of Internet Services, Qualcomm;  Brad Duea, SVP, Value Added Services, T-Mobile USA; Jim Eadie, SVP, Digital Distribution, Viacom Media Networks; Aaron Levie, CEO & Co-founder, Box.net; Janet Schijns, VP, Business Solutions Group, Verizon Wireless;  Fared Adib, VP, Product Development, Sprint; and Edward McLaughlin, Chief Emerging Payments Officer, MasterCard.

"These visionaries are using mobile technology to positively transform the way their companies do business. Attendees will find this new approach and strategic insights extremely helpful when considering how to make their own businesses prosperous," notes Robert Mesirow, CTIA vice president and show director in a prepared statement.

More information on the CTIA Boardroom Series and panels focusing on disruptive technologies is available at the CTIA events page.