CONVERGENCE OF WIRELESS AND DATA TO DRIVE FUTURE INTERNET
SANTA CLARA, Cal. -- Internet is at a “critical time” as data and telephony converge, and that convergence could offer “the best or the worst of both worlds,” Packet Design CEO Judy Estrin said at Supernet conference here Jan. 16. Future trends include consolidation of voice, video, and data services, she said. “We are still in the covered wagon stage” of Internet, and it will progress via developments such as ubiquitous bandwidth, increased ease of use, greater connectivity and improved security, Estrin said.
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Service providers also are taking more realistic view of Internet business opportunities, Cisco Systems Vp Larry Lang said. They realize Internet is “good business, but fiercely competitive, and not like the old voice monopoly,” he said. Network operators of future will be large consolidated enterprises, such as Verizon and Vodafone, Donna Bastien of Agilent Technologies said. Relationship between Internet and mobile wireless technologies will become one of “symbiosis,” she said, and growth of Internet will be driven by consumers’ attraction to wireless devices: “Everything will be connected, and it all will be wireless.”
“Killer applications” of near future will include software to download music, photos and games to mobile wireless devices, and location-based services such as mapping, Bastien said. More products such as Japan’s DoCoMo I-mode can be expected, she predicted, as younger consumers flock to wireless devices offering entertainment as well as communication. Technologies allowing consumers to use their mobile phones as “billing agents” to pay for products and services will emerge as well, Bastien said. But popularity of such applications means companies need to provide end-to-end management and make applications user-friendly, reliable and scalable, she said. Consumers will see more alliances between companies creating “global brands,” Bastien said.
Venture capitalists predicted success for differentiated businesses. Companies presenting solutions to “difficult technical problems” will attract funding, Vanguard Ventures partner Donald Wood said. Popular areas for venture capital investment include optical components, core technology and software, Trinity Ventures Gen. Partner Fred Wang said.