The Communications Industry is going through an identity crisis. What defines a telecom service provider these days? Content? Network Infrastructure? Is Google a telecom company? How about Netflix? Regulatory answers to the “Net Neutrality” question may force this issue. In the meantime, we’re seeing significant positive trends for 2011 that will introduce opportunities. Specifically:
– Network Convergence. The industry has promised any app on any device anywhere using any medium. This promise will facilitate the convergence of telecom networks while furthering the adoption of cloud computing.
– “True” SOA and BPM. Carriers are realizing that the true promise of SOA is as much about enabling effective business processes and there are new opportunities to achieve web service value across enterprises.
– Portals are now about enabling content. Traditional service providers are rushing to find ways to avoid being marginalized as dumb pipes. All this new content is going to require portals and rich Internet applications that are comprehensive yet easy to use.
– Data Management finds its business case. There is a strong business case behind using DM as a means to prevent customer churn through real-time and accurate customer analytics and clients are realizing that ineffective DM has enterprise-wide impacts. There’s also new promise for data-oriented offerings like revenue assurance for overall business operational assurance.
Ericsson, the leading Telecom vendor, has recently included Cloud Computing in its formula for Success:
Success = (device*innovation) + (cloud computing*innovation) + (mobile connectivity*innovation) + (application*innovation)
http://blog.wedran.com/2011/06/telecom-trends-in-cloud-computing.html